Guidelines for the Role and Functional Development of the Military Museum in Reinforcing Patriotism: A Case Study of Royal Thai Army Museum in Honor of His Majesty the King

Abstract

The objective of this study is to study the roles and functions of the Royal Thai Army Museum in Honor of His Majesty the King in reinforcing patriotism, the management of the Royal Thai Army Museum, and guidelines for the role and functional development of the Royal Thai Army Museum in reinforcing patriotism.

This study is a qualitative research. Data is collected from documentary research and in-depth interviews with 2 groups of key informants, namely those who are directly involved with the Royal Thai Army Museum such as the managements of the museum, the head of the museum, the historical officers and the curators, and those who are visitors of the Royal Thai Army Museum.

The results show that 1) Roles and functions of the Royal Thai Army Museum in reinforcing patriotism is reflected through the exhibition of museum objects; such as the collection of military historical data and images of important past events as well as the promotion of knowledge of military history, which is delivered through the exhibition of artifacts from the past to the present. The exhibition is divided into 5 rooms, each of which reflects patriotic ideology from different perspectives 2) The management of Royal Thai Army Museum in Honor of His Majesty the King complete the 7 functions of management, which include the management structures, teamwork, social responsibility, mission, policy, ethics, and museum management and planning. 3) The guidelines for the role and functional development of the Royal Thai Army Museum in reinforcing patriotism correspond to 8 important functions, particularly the duty of collecting objects. This is the primary duty of a museum which is collecting and displaying artifacts. The Royal Thai Army Museum displays artifacts related to military history. It also serves as an education tool to reinforce patriotic ideology through the exhibition of military objects.