Buddhist-Oriented Political Soft Power in Thai Society

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the concept of Buddhist political soft power in Thai society; 2) to synthesize the phenomena of political soft power in Tripitaka; and 3) to construct the model of Buddhist political soft power to be applied in Thai society. This research is qualitative, using documentary research on the Tripitaka, Attakata, textbooks, Pavikornviset Bibles, and research reports and theses. The research tools were structured in-depth interviews with eight key informants and group discussions with six experts, and the content was synthesized using data source triangulation to report the results of the research in a narrative presentation. Research results revealed that 1. the concept of political soft power in Thai society consisted of the following indicators: 1) political culture; 2) political values; and 3) political policy. 2. The synthesis of the phenomenon of political soft power in the Tripitaka revealed that King Bimbisara, King Asoka the Great, the Vajjiputra, the Makhamanava, the Kalamas, and the Chakkawatti Sutta used political soft power in three aspects: political culture, political values, and political policy, which are consistent with the 4 Dhamma principles, namely 1) Aparihaniyadhamma 7, 2) the ten principles of a righteous king, 3) Chakkawattivatthamma 5, and 4) Sanghavatthu 4. 3. The forms of Buddhist political soft power include “Dhammika State Power,” namely: 1) precepts, which means do not harm each other; 2) concentration, which means training the mind to be stable; and 3) wisdom, which means knowing the reasons and always developing oneself to be applied in Thai society to create innovation, which is a new body of knowledge.