Thammasat Review

Bibliometric and Critical Review of the Empirical Research on Political Deception

Firmansyah Firmansyah — 2024-06-10

This article analyzes various perspectives on the issue of political deception to provide a comprehensive picture of how it works and affects society. It draws from 34 empirical studies conducted between 2000 and 2023, available in the Scopus electronic database. The results of all empirical studies show that political deception has common patterns, rhetorical tactics, social media effects, and psychological aspects. We found that the most popular research streams are the historical context of political deception; lying in political communication; the effects of lies on political processes; social and psychological aspects of deception; media and communication channels; voter behavior, public perception and decision-making, and deception detection; theoretical approaches; and concerns about transparency and reputation. These research streams, or cross-cutting themes, reflect the complex dimensions of political deception and provide an in-depth look into its practice and impact in a democratic context. All prior empirical studies delineate applying a multilevel analysis approach that opens up horizons of understanding, involving studies at the individual, group, and societal levels in examining various aspects of politicians' behavior. The results of those multilevel analyses cover psychological influences, political and cultural contexts, media and technology, political demands, voter behavior dynamics, long-term trends, and ethical implications and responsibilities. In summary, these 34 empirical studies contribute significantly to addressing the challenges of political deception in contemporary democracy and modern society.

An Analysis of Obstacles, Problems, and Sustainable Development Strategies for “City Diplomacy” Operations Between Chiang Rai and Yunnan

Pornpawis Lhapeerakul — 2024-06-10

This qualitative research provides a descriptive analysis of city diplomacy operations between Chiang Rai, Thailand and Yunnan, China. It aims to identify obstacles, problems, and sustainable development strategies.

The findings reveal that the city diplomacy relationship is influenced by national policies, governmental strategies, and local development plans. Challenges arise in the international context, the operations of relevant agencies in Chiang Rai and Yunnan, and the involvement of the private sector and the public.

Fostering understanding and implementing sustainable development strategies are crucial to overcome these challenges. This requires support from the central government for budgetary allocations and public relations. This includes shaping the “sister city relationship model” between Chiang Rai and Yunnan into a developmental blueprint applicable to other Thai provinces engaged in similar relationships with Chinese provinces. The focus is on fostering effective international cooperation for mutual benefits that align with global and local dynamics, as well as economic and social development policies at both domestic and international levels. This initiative ultimately aims to build resilient cities and communities, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development objectives.

Streamlines of Fear of Missing Out through Young Consumer Thrifting Fashion Future Trends: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

Nizar Fauzan — 2024-06-10

This study examines current trends and future research on young customers' Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and its influence on thrift shopping fashion issues within the clothes sector. This article aims to provide an all-encompassing comprehension of how FOMO aligns consumers' decision-making and conduct concerning sustainable fashion. The research utilized bibliometric and visualization analysis of fashion marketing, consumer behavior, and sustainability publications. FOMO-influenced thrifting fashion involvement through studies from 2010 to 2024. The study revealed that FOMO and digital innovation have shifted young consumers' fashion preferences towards sustainable and ethical options. It points out fashion marketing and management's expanding sustainability and the influence of digital platforms on consumer trends. Critical insights into the worldwide economic effects of these transformations on the fashion supply chain are also highlighted. Research was limited to 2010–2024 publications. FOMO, sustainable fashion, and digital marketing innovation were covered in 660 articles. The findings support fashion marketing research that reflects changing customer priorities. Fashion marketers and managers should incorporate sustainability into their marketing strategy to draw in ethical young consumers through this study. The findings show that marketing influences socially responsible consumer behavior by raising awareness and demand for sustainable fashion. This research uniquely improves fashion marketing and management by merging bibliometric analysis with FOMO, sustainability, and digital innovation. This provides fresh perspectives into the impact of these elements on fashion marketing.

Organisational Greening Process and SMEs’ Performance in the Textile Industry: Evidence from Pakistan

Riffut Jabeen — 2024-06-10

This study aims to investigate the influence of organizational green culture (OGC), green innovation (GI), and green finance (GF) on the performance (FP) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan's textile industry. The research adopts a quantitative and cross-sectional research method, collecting primary data through structured questionnaires completed by managers and senior employees of SMEs in the textile industry in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The study employs Stakeholder Resource-Based View Theory to gain a better understanding of the impacts of organizational green culture, green innovation, green finance, and SMEs’ performance. Statistical tests, including demographic analysis, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis, are performed using SPSS. A sample of 230 firms is analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal a positive impact of organizational green culture, green innovation, and green finance on SMEs performance in the textile industry. Managers gain insight into the potential benefits of adopting organizational green culture, green finance, and green innovation. This study is supported by four main literature strands and stakeholder theory and has significant implications for both academics and policymakers.

Developing a Model for Promoting Social Enterprise for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities in Thailand

Vijita Rachatanantikul — 2024-06-10

In Thailand, there are approximately 4.19 million persons with disabilities. Most of them (35%) are of working age. These individuals are engaged in entrepreneurship in the agricultural and services. The aim of the study is to change persons with disabilities from being "receivers" of assistance to being "providers" in economic and social development. Therefore, this study uses quantitative and qualitative methods. This study used surveys, focus groups, and case studies. Participants were entrepreneurs with disabilities who registered and not yet registered as social enterprises, and experts from the public, private, and academic sectors. The findings indicated that entrepreneurs with disabilities faced the highest level of need in building confidence. The problems reported were linked to training, legal/policy, and societal attitudes towards persons with disabilities. The model for promoting social enterprises for entrepreneurs with disabilities in Thailand by the Unit of Social Enterprise Incubator for Persons with Disabilities (USEID) consisted of four parts: leadership, training center, networking, and fund coordination. The findings suggest the need to enhance business and reduce taxes produced by persons with disabilities.

The Effect of Psychological Training on Strengthening Family Behavioral Empowerment: A Path Analysis Approach

Krisana Chotratanakamol — 2024-06-10

Preventing violence and strengthening family institutions require the enhancement of Family Behavioral Empowerment (FBE). Therefore, an experiment was conducted to provide psychological training, focusing on both psychological and skill development, aimed at improving FBE among Thai youths. This research investigated the effects of psychological training modules, characteristics, and situational factors on FBE. A total of 320 undergraduates from four Thai universities completed the training. Hypotheses based on the Interactionism Model were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated good fit indices for the path model (χ² = 135.714; df = 111; p-value = 0.05; RMSEA = 0.02; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; SRMR = 0.06). Psychological training modules had a significantly direct effect on psychological states (TE = 0.49) and both direct and indirect effects on FBE (TE = 0.51). The training's effectiveness played an essential role in achieving favorable states and enhancing FBE. Psychological states exhibited the highest total effect on FBE (TE = 0.81), emphasizing the importance of fostering favorable psychological states. Psychological traits and situational factors were pivotal in shaping psychological states and indirectly contributing to FBE. These findings indicate the utility of training modules that integrate psychological and skills development, fostering positive attitudes and motivation for achievement towards FBE. Such interventions are crucial for strengthening family institutions and alleviating societal violence.

Health System Capacities and Policy Responses to a Global Health Crisis: A Comparative Study Between Thailand and China

Orachorn Saechang — 2024-06-13

The governance and sustainability of health systems are essential for human well-being, particularly during public health crises like COVID-19. Despite achieving low fatality rates and high vaccination levels, Thailand and China have adopted both similar and distinct policy responses to the pandemic. This study conducts a qualitative analysis based on documentary research to examine the policy responses of both countries and the underlying rationale. The analysis is framed by the six building blocks of health system strengthening as proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). It also incorporates an examination of health system responses and governance capacities during public health crises to evaluate the policy decisions of both nations. The findings reveal that the policy responses of Thailand and China are influenced by the respective strengths of their health systems and governmental capacities. Both countries adhered to WHO operational guidelines for combating COVID-19; however, China implemented these measures more rigorously. Thailand, characterized by a robust health system but limited governance capacity, adopted a "Coexistence with COVID-19" policy, reopening the country once vaccines became available. Conversely, China's relatively weaker and fragmented health system necessitated a stringent "Zero-COVID" policy, heavily relying on its governance capacity to manage the pandemic. Therefore, governance capacity, alongside health system strength and responsiveness, is critical in determining policy responses during public health crises.

Countering Stereotypes: How Female Politicians in Indonesia Utilize Instagram

Vellayati Hajad — 2024-06-17

This research investigates the role, challenges, and obstacles faced by women in electoral politics in Indonesia, despite the legal stipulation of a 30 percent quota for women's representation in legislative institutions. Predominantly male political culture, gender stereotypes, and lack of support from political parties are significant barriers. Social media, particularly Instagram, has emerged as a crucial tool for challenging these barriers and promoting inclusivity in politics. This study employs a qualitative method, combining social media content analysis and a literature review to focus on women's political participation on Instagram during campaigns. Data collection involved documenting women's political activities on social media and reviewing relevant literature. An in-depth analysis was then conducted to identify patterns and trends, which are presented comprehensively. The findings reveal persistent gender bias among voters but also highlight the growing importance of social media strategies in building a positive image for female politicians and combating stereotypes. The study concludes that to effectively overcome these challenges, collective efforts in political education, public awareness, party support, and network-building among female politicians are essential.

Public Opinion Polls in the 2023 Thai General Election: Unanalyzed Demographic Data

Rungnapa Yanyongkasemsuk — 2024-06-17

By surveying public opinion before and during elections, the results of various polls inform us about the popularity of political parties and candidates, as well as predict the number of seats each political party may secure in the parliament and election outcomes. Surveys are beneficial for polling agencies, mass media, political parties, and candidates, as they provide insight into the preferences and predictions of the electorate. The findings of this study show that the typical opinion poll can fall short of serving the public as owners of sovereignty, as it often neglects to survey policies and issues relevant to the people. Additionally, polls fail to analyze demographic data that could help society understand the origin and trajectory of public opinions, issues, and needs. Economic, social, political, and cultural factors can impact survey results, as explained by Pierre Bourdieu. He elucidated the survey of public opinions and underscored the significance of demographic data analysis with class perspectives. When polling agencies overlook and exhibit bias in their surveys, they assume a guiding role in politics. This is because they prescribe information and the direction of the political situation through various media channels. Such a situation represents symbolic violence. To break free from this, prioritizing the analysis of demographic data and public policies in surveys could redirect attention from the political competition landscape to the issues and needs of the people.

Strategizing Beyond the Field: Assessing Transferable Skills and Post-Retirement Career Planning among Young Elite Thai Athletes

Nawarat Chaichan — 2024-06-21

Due to the extensive time dedicated to sports from an early age, many athletes are unable to allocate time for other activities, and thus struggle to plan for post-sport careers. Since 2005, the International Olympic Committee has initiated the Athlete Career Program, and in Thailand, the Thailand Olympic Academy has been providing educational opportunities for Thai athletes since 2017. However, there is a lack of research on transferable skills and life planning after sports retirement specifically targeting young Thai athletes. The objective of this study is to elucidate the relationship between student athletes’ perception of transferable sports skills to explore the application of these skills in their lives after retirement from sports. This study surveyed 92 university student athletes (51 males and 41 females) who participated in 25 Olympic sports at the 30th Manila Southeast Asian Games in 2019. The survey response rate was 100%, and factor analysis and regression analysis were conducted. The results revealed that ‘Social and Professional Competence’ and ‘Collaborative Competence’ are key transferable skills from sports, significantly impacting athletes’ perception of skill transferability and development confidence. This result provides a valuable framework for developing targeted interventions and educational programs aimed at facilitating successful career transitions for athletes.

A Bibliometric Review of Global Research on Constituency Service (1975–2024)

Rahmad Hidayat — 2024-06-25

This review examines the scientific research on constituency service from 1975 to 2024, leveraging a dataset of 161 documents from the Scopus database. Statistical analysis using tools such as Bibliometrix RStudio and VOSviewer reveals a dynamic trajectory, with a historical start in 1975 through the article by Clarke et al. and a significant spike in publications after 2000. The annual growth rate is 0.0%, indicating a stable number of documents added yearly. The dataset contains documents with an average age of 12.2 years, denoting an extensive historical presence. Notable contributors include Lindsay J. Benstead (Portland State University) and Mihail Chiru (University of Oxford), who contributed three articles, and Cox & McCubbins's (1986) article, which received the highest number of citations at 619, demonstrating their noteworthy influence on constituency service discourse. The Journal of Legislative Studies emerged as the primary source with eleven articles, followed by the "Representation" and "Parliamentary Affairs" journals with nine and eight articles, respectively. Leading universities, such as the University of California, Harvard University, and Stanford University, lead research efforts in the constituency service field, confirming the United States' position as a paramount contributor with 118 articles. This bibliometric review provides a global overview of research trends in constituency service, political representation, personal vote, clientelism, and parliamentary questions. It highlights recent advances, dominating issues, key topics, and thematic evolution. The findings offer valuable insights for scientific inquiry and encourage future research and development initiatives.

The Impact of Adhocracy Organizational Culture, Empowering Leadership, and Organizational Creativity on Firm Performance in Chinese Internet Companies

Xuemei Sun — 2024-06-28

Organizational creativity is an important determinant of firm performance nowadays, particularly in Internet companies in China. However, there is a limited amount of research that has investigated the determinants of organizational creativity at the organizational level. This study, grounded in transformational leadership theory, deepens our understanding of the adhocracy organizational culture in China. It demonstrates how empowering leadership can foster organizational creativity, leading to improved firm performance, particularly in knowledge-intensive firms like Internet companies. In total, 138 managers from 41 Internet companies are listed in the top 100 Internet companies listed in the China Internet Enterprise Comprehensive Strength Index (2023) report. The findings of the PLS-SEM analysis showed that ad hoc organizational culture and empowering leadership significantly impact organizational creativity and, in turn, improve firm performance. Moreover, this study also found that empowering leadership can be implemented well as a higher-order construct by using the disjoint two-stage approach. This study fills in the research gaps in transformational leadership theory by particularly focusing on the role of empowering leadership within an organization. In addition, this study also offers recommendations for top management in high-tech industries, especially Internet companies, to invest in developing novel work procedures and operational protocols, encouraging employees with creative ideas and implementation, and solving problems with new approaches.

Sacred Mountains in Thailand and Japan: A Comparative Study of Mt. Doi Suthep and Mt. Yoshino-Omine

Worrasit Tantinipankul — 2024-06-28

This article investigates the historical development of ritual practices at two revered mountains, Doi Suthep-Pui in Thailand and Yoshino-Omine in Japan. Situated along the Thongchai Mountain range, Doi Suthep-Pui has been a sacred site since the pre-Buddhist era, intricately woven into the cultural identity of Chiang Mai and the history of the Lan Na Kingdom. The region embodies a syncretic landscape where indigenous beliefs converge with Theravada Buddhism. Meanwhile, Yoshino-Omine, at the heart of Japan's earliest Buddhist civilization, integrates Shugendo Buddhism with Shinto beliefs. Drawing on fieldwork and secondary literature, this article compares the legends, myths, beliefs, and rituals associated with these sacred mountains. It also scrutinizes the impacts of state interventions in religious traditions, particularly in the context of modernization and national religious reforms, examining the divergent trajectories of Thailand and Japan in the post-World War II period. Engaging with theoretical debates about religious syncretism, the aim is to provide insights into how these interventions have differentially shaped the syncretic ritual practices of Doi Suthep-Pui and Yoshino-Omine. By contextualizing Doi Suthep and Mount Yoshino-Omine within a broader historical and conceptual framework, this article aims to elucidate the dynamic interplay between religious traditions, state power, and local agency in shaping sacred geographies. With Doi Suthep and its pilgrimage route listed on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage since 2015, Chiang Mai’s heritage authorities can draw many lessons about managing the syncretic living heritage of the mountain from a study of Yoshino-Omine, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. To properly acknowledge the syncretic cultural landscape of Chiang Mai, I argue that Thailand needs to decolonize its approach to heritage interpretation and management.