Laos Buddhist Monk Network: Community and Social Capital Creating Process in Thai Society

Abstract

The research article has three objectives: 1) to study the process of building Lao monk community in Thai society, 2) to study the process of establishing Lao monk network in Thai society, and 3) to analyze the social capital transfer of Lao monk network in Thai society. The study employed mixed methods in which the quantitative research employed a questionnaire as the research instrument. The descriptive statistics were used to explain the basic information of the research sample. While the qualitative research used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to understand the process of building a community and social capital in Thai society. The results of the study are as follows: 1) Factors involved in the process of building Lao monk community comprise the use of cultural and Buddhist relations, the patronage system of seniors and juniors, the establishment of student affairs, the development of foreign relations by Buddhist universities, and the needs to restore and support Buddhism in Thai society; 2) The process of establishing Lao monk network in Thai society occurs from the push of the Lao student club at the Buddhist universities, the recognition by the government agencies of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the support of the ecclesiastical monks in Thai society; and 3) The ability to transfer the social capital of Lao monk network in Thai society is expressed through the relationship network built by members of Lao monk network through interactions with people or organizations in Thai society. Lao monks can pass on the network of their good relationship with the ecclesiastical monks in Thai society leading to the development of relationship network that will benefit the members of Lao monk network in Thai society.