Thai's Traditional Sport Bulls Fighting and Local Politics in the Southern Thailand from 1997 to 2023

Abstract

This research aimed to study 1) the local political structure in the southern region through the traditional sport, bullfighting, 1997-2023, 2) the political interaction of local politicians and the public through the traditional sport, bullfighting, in the southern region, 1997-2023, and 3) the use of the traditional sport, bullfighting, as a political base for local politics in the southern region of Thailand, 1997-2023. Qualitative research was used to collect data through in-depth interviews with 23 relevant experts. Two focus groups of 9 people were organized. Data analysis was organized and interpreted from the content research.

          The research results found that: 1) local political structure consisted of (1) local politicians own many bullfighting arenas, (2) bullfighting is a popular traditional sport among the political elite in the southern region, (3) bullfighting is a symbol of local politicians’ political influence and power, (4) bullfighting can create economic value in the area, 2) political interaction consisted of (1) interaction between political elites and societal elites,
(2) interaction between societal elites and government agencies, (3) interaction between government agencies and the public, (4) interaction between the public and political elites, (5) interaction between political elites and government agencies, (6) interaction between societal elites and the public, and 3) the use of traditional sport, bullfighting, as a political vote base consisted of (1) local politicians build bullfighting arenas to be a political vote base, (2) bullfighting can create incentives for election decision-making, (3) bullfighting enthusiasts act as vote canvassers for local politicians in the southern region, and (4) bullfighting arenas are political campaign areas for local and national politicians.