THE APPLICATION OF BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL ETHICS OF THE POLITICAL LEADERS IN CHAIYAPHUM PROVINCE

Abstract

The purposes of the research are 1) to study the general conditions of political ethics of the political leaders in Chaiyaphum Province 2) to study the standard of political ethics of the political leaders in Chaiyaphum Province, and 3) to apply Buddhist principles to the development of political ethics of the political leaders in Chaiyaphum Province. The research method is mixed methodology. The data of qualitative research were collected from 21 key informants by means of in-depth interview with data analysis by description. The data of quantitative research were collected from 400 samples of 587,556 constituents aged 18 years upwards in Chaiyaphum Province. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics: frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

The result found that 1. The general conditions of political ethics of the political leaders were as follows: 1) the adherence to the main national institutions-nation, religion and monarch, realizing the values of the institutions, joining the state’s ceremonies, applying the philosophy of sufficient economy for livelihood, participating in religious ceremonies, and raising national and symbolic flags at the buildings fenses on the special occasions to show loyalty to the institutions, 2) honesty and good consciences to the responsible duties by participating the assembly meeting approving the budget bills honestly, checking the budget spending in line with the budget bills, behaving as a good model in livelihood, and living sufficiently, 3) dare to make decision correctly and righteously by following-up and monitoring the development projects that used the budget, participating in the committee to follow-up the development projects to solve the problems of the people promptly,  daring to make decision and valuing the time value, 4) regarding the  public interests more than personal ones  and having the  public mind, joining public meetings and public activities in the community such as tree planting, cleaning and garbage separating to reduce the garbage in the community, 5) focusing on work success, controlling and following-up the duty performance in line with the development plans emphasizing public interests, being reasonable and promoting to work reasonably, 6) performing duties fairly and impartially, following rules, regulations and social traditions, approving the budget spending in all the areas, not only specific area of one own and 7) behaving as a good model and saving an official image, having the principles, being a public example, dressing properly, promoting the local unique products. 2. The standard of political ethics of the political leaders in Chaiyaphum Province totalises at high level (=3.56, S.D.=0.32). 3. The application of Buddhist principles to the development of political ethics of the political leaders in Chaiyaphum Province according to Seven Sappurisa-dhamma or seven qualities of a good man totalises at high level (=3.64, S.D.=0.71).