PEOPLE’S EMPOWERMENT PROCESS FOR SOCIAL

SOLIDARITY OF COMMUNITIES

Vilailak Rungmuangthong

A Dissertation Summited in Partial

Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (Social Development Administration)

School of Social and Environmental Development

National Institute of Development Administration
2016
 ABSTRACT

Title of Dissertation People’s Empowerment Process

for Social Solidarity of Communities
Author Miss Vilailak Rungmuangthong
Degree Doctor of Philosophy (Social Development
Administration)
Year 2016

The objectives of this research were 1) to comprehend a process of

empowerment of people (PEP) that is suitable to Thailand’s social conditions; 2)
analyze major/main components of PEP in urban and rural communities; 3) to come
up with a model on this matter and 4) to study problems and obstacles about this
matter can also revealed. The areas of study are three communities as Ban Chonabot
community; Ban Kueng-Muang community and Ban Ku-Muang community.
This research uses qualitative research as a main tool with emphasis on
phenomenology, collecting data via in-depth interviews of 36 key-informants and
participant observation. Data verification will be scrutinized with triangulation
technique concerning people, place and time involving. Data obtain were
interpretative analysis and systematic analysis along logical context coupled with an
analysis of social context.
The research was found as the followings:
1) People’s empowerment process for social solidarity of community
were 5 steps that created group activity, goal setting together, find problems through
dialogue, created working agreement, and expanded networks working.
2) Important components of PEP were 3 components that leadership,
knowledge, and trust.
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3) “PEP Model” was focused on building awareness of the community

to solve problems together via sharing personal property.
4) Problems and obstacles about this matter can also revealed were
moral of next generation leadership.
Important recommendations propose for solving the problem. First should be a
process of increasing trusts among people in the community via common activities in
the community. Secondly, should have potential development of next generation
leaders/core persons should be carried out in order to make sure that the work and
process of people empowerment will continue forever. Third, the government should
review it’s roles and rhythm for supporting knowledge, methods and techniques to
communities by considering people’s needs, community context and problems
appropriately.