The Influence of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s Political Economics Thought on Modern Political Concept

Abstract

This article is analyzed with the theories and frameworks of humanities. The purpose of this article is to explain the concept of Buddhism’s ideal and modern politics, within the framework of modern political moralities and Buddhadasa Bhikkhu’s moral economics concept, “Dhammic Socialism”. This theory shows influences and problems of the Buddhadasa’s political economy on the development of politics and economy in Thailand.

The result of this article can be concluded that Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has presented the concept of political economics, “Dhammic Socilaism”. This concept means that the economic and political actions must be controlled by “religious morality”. In addition, Buddhadasa also rejected the political concept which is runing by the system of “liberal democracy”. Dhammic Socialism contrasts with the concept of modernization, which politics and economy must be operated under democratic and marketing economy with modern morality - not based on religious principles. The noticeable point of this article is that the influence of Buddhist political economics under Buddhadasa’s interpretation has re-produced political discourse and has directly impacted on many Thai thinkers and scholars. And this base-on-religion concept has conflicts with the development of modernity. In addition, Buddhadasa’s concept has many paradoxes, these things will directly affect Thailand’s social and economic development.