The Characteristics of Local Leaders Resulting in the Enhancement of Peace in the Communities

Abstract

The research entitled “The Characteristics of Local Leaders Resulting in the  Enhancement of Peace in the Communities” consisted of the following objectives: 1) to study the desirable characteristics of peace leaders by the communities in Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya and 2) to present the components and indicators for characteristics of peace leaders resulting in the enhancement of peace in the communities. The research applied the Ethnographic Delphi Future Research (EDFR) technique. The key informants were experts from various fields; Experts on peaceful means, experts on mediation, experts on leadership development, experts on peaceful communication, experts on prototype leaders, experts on multiculturalism, and experts on facilitation process. 

               The results of the research are as follows:

               1) From studying the desirable characteristics of peace leaders by the communities, it was found that there are 4 aspects of characteristics which are mental, physical, social, and intellectual. On the mental aspect, it requires respect in the differences, attitudes conducive to peaceful means, honesty, sacrifice, voluntary mind, a determined mind with no bias, impartiality, loving-kindness, and compassion; On the physical aspect, it requires morality, virtues, and to behave traditionally; On the social aspect, it requires attention, assistance, and good human relations; On an intellectual aspect, it requires constant development and learning, communication skills, analytical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, participation, and openness to opinions. In addition, the local peace engineer is the one who provides peace to the communities, one who coordinates, and one who brings change by emphasizing participation, good human relations, non-violence, non-racism, and religious nondiscrimination. Including, one who has a role in supporting villages, monasteries, and schools to join activities or bring about unity together. 

               2) By studying the components and indicators for characteristics of local peace leaders resulting in the enhancement of peace in the communities, it was found that there are 13 components and 56 indicators which are: 1) Mental aspect has 7 indicators; 2) Physical aspect has 3 indicators; 3) Social aspect has 2 indicators; 4) Intellectual aspect has 6 indicators; 5) Ideology has 5 indicators; 6) Vision has 5 indicators; 7) Self-conduct has 3 indicators; 8) The enhancement of community relations has 3 indicators; 9) Conflict management has 3 indicators; 10) Peaceful communication has 5 indicators; 11) Building cooperation and setting common goals of the community has 6 indicators; 12) The power of creative learning and building a learning community have 4 indicators; and 13) Network building has 4 indicators.