ROLES AND DUTIES OF OMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY IN KUMPHAWAPI DISTRICT UDON THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

            This research aims (1) to study the roles of community leaders in the 21st century, (2) to study the factors affecting the roles of community leaders in the 21st century, and (3) to study the guidelines for developing the roles of community leaders in the 21st century in Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani Province. It is a quantitative and qualitative research. The sample group consists of 359 eligible voters in Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani Province the informants were 10 government officials and community scholars. The research instruments were questionnaires and interviews. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, multiple regression analysis, and descriptive analysis to support the discussion of the results. The research results found that: (1) The roles of community leaders in the 21st century were overall at a moderate level, ranked from most to least as follows: community plan promotion, community learning center promotion, community capital promotion, community lifestyle promotion, sufficiency economy promotion, community career promotion, and drug problem solving, respectively. (2) Factors that significantly affected the roles of community leaders in the 21st century were problem solving (X4), responsibility (X3), and planning (X2), with predictor coefficients in the raw scores (b) equal to .730, .348, and .236, respectively and (3) it is necessary to promote roles and responsibilities for community leaders in developing potential in various areas, training, generating income for the community, appropriate management, care, consistent performance of duties, interactions with villagers and outsiders, as well as comprehensive management for both personal and public benefits in order to effectively and efficiently carry out their roles and responsibilities.