Integrating Governance for Good Life in the Current Thai Societies

Abstract

This research was to investigate theintegrating governance principlesfor good life achievement in the current Thai societies and to find directionstoback-up its accomplishment. As such,in-depth interview,focus groups, and non-participatory observation were qualitatively employed for data collection during July-December 2019. The ten interviewees comprising two each with the entitled monks, scholars, laities, MCURK postgraduates and undergraduates mostly prioritized equity and inclusiveness (opportunities to improve wellbeing) while human rights was the last priority and proposed R?jadhamma 10 to replace the existing governance.The four focus groups eachassembling anentitled monk, ascholar, alaity, anMCURK postgraduate and anundergraduate, similarly prioritized as the interviewee group. In R?jadhamma 10, every focus group prioritized Attha (advantageous welfare) followed byDhamma-vepulla(life value enhancement);K?mabhog?sukha (happy family life) and Vimokkha (sense of public). With non-participatory observations, the entitled monks were prone to Buddhist Dhamma and Ethics.The rest partly agreed with the Venerables but weighed more on rule of law, transparency, participation, accountability and cost-effectiveness.Somevoiced governance indicators, application process and publicity. Two directions were found, first theimperative participative leadership (democratic) training and second, behaviorism and cognitivism training since the former was responsive to rule of law while the latter was the mindfulness and wisdom development. Researches if any should pursue on impacts of governance application and add more factors e.g. welfare equality, social responsiveness and why human rights were least recognized so on.