Local Politicians in Chanthaburi: Networks of Political Power

Abstract

The objective of this article aims to understand the political interaction between local politicians and politicians who had been elected in Chanthaburi Province with references to their networks and the roles of interest groups, as well as their vote-gaining techniques. To the purposes of this project, related documents and literatures are examined. The data in the field are collected with in-depth interviewing and observation by the researcher. Then the obtained data are complied, systematized, and analysed. The research report are presented by means of analytical description. This study found out that, Classified by background, the Chanthaburi politicians comprised of three categories: lawyers and mass media men, teachers or ex-government officials, local administrative organization officers or businessmen. The ex-government officials are mostly elected as the representatives. The influential factors for them to be elected are the conditions of their potentials, and the influence of the political parties they are affiliated. Most of Chanthaburi politicians are male. Mrs.Khomkay Ponlaboot was the only elected female politician.
By kinship network and relationship, there are a father-child pair, network of relatives and organizations, the local politicians’ interest groups, social groups which has been connected, and the other interest groups are economic interest groups. Political Parties play the major roles to support the election winning in Chanthaburi province. Usually, the dominant ones are the government parties. The politician in Chanthaburi has a variety of campaigning strategies such as using the outstanding ability, people directly campaign, local visiting to meet people, speech and use patronage of various forms and participation in any social activities in communities.