Local Political Communication in Digital Age for Enhancing Local Political Participation of New Generation in Higher Education in Surat Thani Province

Abstract

This research was aimed to 1) study the role level of the local political communication in the digital age and local political participation behavior and 2) investigate the relationship between the local political communication in the digital age and local political participation behavior of the new generation to seek for the stimulation guidelines for local political participation of the new generation through the mass media in the digital age local political communication. This research combined both quantitative and qualitative methods using a questionnaire and interviews. The research area was the higher education institution in Surat Thani province. The research population was both male and female students in higher education institution. The quantitative research samples were 1,077 participants and the qualitative research samples were 16 people. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, canonical correlation and path analysis. The research findings were as follows; 1) The role of local political communication in digital age of new generation in higher education in Surat Thani Province was at a high level, especially political opinions, mediation between local politicians and people, broadcasting local political news, and knowledge providing of local political. 2) The local political participation of new generation in higher education was at a high level, especially political adjustments behavior, interest in political, and participation of monitoring and evaluation of public affairs. 3) The relationship between the local political communication in the digital age and local political participation was at a medium level,               The roles of development of local politics, broadcasting local political news, and political opinions was found related to the political interest, participation of decision-making in public affairs, and political adjustments behavior. 4) The local political communication in the digital age by broadcasting local political news the development of local politics was a factor in promoting local political participation, which included 4.1) the interest in local political participation by getting updated about what was related to the administration of the local government organization, and 4.2) the participation in decision-making in public affairs regarding to the news and updates or the meetings to create local development plans and to make decisions on the issues that the community needs.