DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CULTURE AFFECTING VOTING RIGHT EXERCISE OF POLICE OFFICERS OF GENERAL STAFF DIVISION AND SPECIAL BRANCH BUREAU

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study level of voting right exercise of police officers of General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau, 2) to analyze democratic political culture of police officers of  General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau affecting voting right exercise, and 3) to present the development guideline of voting right exercise democratic political culture of police officers of General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau. This research was mixed methodology. The conceptual framework of the research was applied from Thinnaphan Nakhata ‘s study. The population consisted of 196 police officers of General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau.The samples were 127 police officers  determined by Krejcie & Morgan’s table and interviewed 15 superintendents, deputy superintendents and inspectors. The instruments used in this research were a 5-rating scale questionnaire, and interview form and content summarize. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Multiple Regression Analysis.

          The research results revealed that 1) level of voting right exercise of police officers of General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau as a whole was at a moderate level. When considering each aspect from the highest to the lowest found that respect for the rules of democratic governance was at the highest average, followed by the importance of dignity and equality of individualsมparticipation in political and administrative activities, optimism, trust in fellow humans, having a sense of civic duty and believing in oneself, and confidence  were at moderate levels and faith in the principles of democratic governance was at the lowest average. 2) The analysis results on democratic political culture of police officers of  General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau found that 4 aspects namely respect for the rules of democratic governance, having a sense of civic duty and believing in oneself, and confidence, optimism, trust in fellow humans, the importance of dignity and equality of individuals were predicted voting right exercise of police officers at 66.50% with statistically significant level of .05. 3) The development guideline of voting right exercise democratic political culture of police officers of General Staff Division and Special Branch Bureau must be organized to provide knowledge about the democratic system. Praise and honor those who participate in campaign activities to exercise their right to vote. Executives must allocate time to exercise their rights.