Democracy in the Phutai Ethnic Group Community in Kalasin Province, Thailand

The study aims to understand the processes of democracy in the Phutai ethnic group community in Kalasin Province. This would help with defining the complex and critical issues of democracy processes in the Phutai ethnic group community, and then enabling it to reveal the guidelines to strengthen democracy in the Phutai ethnic community and progress towards local community development. Additionally, the research also proposes ways for knowledge exchange and network building regarding democracy development among Phutai ethnic communities in Kalasin and other provinces in Thailand. The research is qualitative, focusing on Phutai ethnic communities with diverse contexts, including urban, semi-urban, rural, and mixed-ethnic communities existing in eight districts of Kalasin Province, where it is one of the main home provinces to Phutai communities in Thailand. Data were gathered through a variety of sources, including academic literature reviews, research reports, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The key informants for in-depth interviews and focus group discussion were recruited by their specific extensive related experience, who are Phutai people. The data collected from these diverse sources were then used for a descriptive analysis to ensure accurate and comprehensive research findings. This study found that the model and process of democracy in ethnic communities in Kalasin Province are a hybrid form, relying on democratic processes rooted in the community to build consensus or approval, which leads to actions that align with government policies and meet the needs of the community. This is achieved through a form of democratic political culture based on ethnonationalism, which contributes to significant democracy within the community. For promoting knowledge exchange and building networks, the research emphasizes the critical need for the precise legal recognition of rights of Phutai ethnic communities and also the need for various methods of information dissemination among all generations of the Phutai group in Kalasin Province and other areas.