Soft Power: A Guideline for Creating a Reconciliation Networking to Reducing Conflict in Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

This research aims to find a way to create a social network of happiness, unity, harmony and reduce conflict in the society of the province. There is a mixed research design with qualitative research using interviews and quantitative research using questionnaires. The researcher selected key informants, namely community leaders, silk weavers, silk business operators, the committee of inspectors of the Phraya Lae Shrine, and musicians and dancers who paid homage to Phraya Lae. The target population is Ban Ton community, Ban Khao District, with 604 people, and Mueang District, with 181,496 people. The sample group was determined according to the formula of Krejcie and Morgan (1970) with a confidence level of 95%. Substituting values according to the formula resulted in a sample group of 385 people. The researchers used purposive sampling technique. Qualitative data analysis was obtained from interviews, analyzed, synthesized and presented descriptively. Quantitative data analysis was performed using the SPSS program.

The analysis results found that the level of opinions of the sample group on the aspect of creating a social network of happiness towards unity and harmony with soft power and the aspect of reducing conflict in Chaiyaphum Province with soft power were at the highest level in both aspects, with an average score of 4.80, 4.83. From the research conclusion, it can be discussed as follows: Silk is a soft power that creates a group of communities to produce and sell to generate income for themselves and the community, becoming a famous business in Chaiyaphum. Creating a good understanding of each other through the weaving lifestyle, learning to live together, silk is a symbol of the community. In addition, the faith in Chao Pho Phraya Lae makes everyone from all walks of life have unity and reduce conflict. Soft power is an important element that the government must develop to have potential in order to find ways to create a reconciliation social network to reduce conflict in Chaiyaphum Province.