BUDDHADHAMMA INTEGRATION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE PROMOTION OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS IN SAMUT SONGKHRAM PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were as follows: 1. To study the general situation and challenges. 2. To examine the components of promoting ethical conduct. 3. To propose the integration of Buddha-dhamma to promote good governance. They were conducted by qualitative research, collected field data from key informants in five groups: local community leaders, relevant officials, community leaders, local wisdom or village monks, and local government administrators, purposefully selected, totaling 25 key informants. A semi-structured interview script was used. Data were also collected from 10 participants in focus group discussions and analyzed by content descriptive interpretation.

The research findings revealed: 1. Strengths: There was transparency in disseminating budget allocation and operational results at the local level, which allowed public participation in decision-making and emphasized openness and collaboration with other community groups to address local problems. However, local politicians in Samut Songkhram Province needed more continuous development knowledge, readiness in communication, cooperation, and continuous funding for local development. 2. Components for promoting good governance among local political leaders in Samut Songkhram Province included six principles: 1. rules of laws, 2. legal ethics,
3. transparency, 4. participation, 5. accountability, and 6. worthiness of value for money. 3. Buddha-dhamma Integration for promoting good governance among local political leaders in Samut Songkhram Province were: Chanda; aspiration, local political leaders in Samut Songkhram Province were willing to render services for people who came for services, Viriya; an effort to do,   strictly adhering to the local development plan, Citta; attention, follow-up, monitoring and checking the plan and reporting to the regional administrative council, Vimamsa; through roughly solving problems.