THE POLITICAL IDENTITY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AT SURINDRA RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY IN THE BORDERLAND AREA THROUGH ONLINE MEDIA
Keywords:
Political Identity, Political Science Students, Border Area, Online Media, Digital CitizenshipAbstract
Objectives of this research article were: 1. To examine the characteristics and forms of the political identity of Political Science students at Surindra Rajabhat University as reflected through their use of online media within the context of a border area; and 2. To synthesize guidelines for promoting and developing the political identity of Political Science students in accordance with the digital society and the border context of Surin Province. This study employed descriptive qualitative research. The key informants consisted of 30 second-year Political Science students purposefullselected.selected. The research instruments included semi-structured in-depth-interview scripts and observation records of online media content on platforms such as Facebook, X (Twitter), and TikTok. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and verified using triangulation techniques. The collected data were analyzed using content descriptive interpretation.
The findings revealed that: 1. The political identity of Political Science students at Surindra Rajabhat University, as reflected through online media at the border context, appeared prominently in three dimensions: 1.1 the “border citizen” identity, reflecting a strong attachment to local communities alongside a sense of Thai citizenship; 1.2 the “new-generation political science student” identity, in which digital media served as spaces for political learning, opinion exchange, and public awareness building; and 1.3 the “political communicator” identity, demonstrating students’ roles in producing content, communicating public issues, and expanding spaces for constructive discussion in online society. 2. The guidelines for promoting and developing students’ political identity should focus on strengthening the “Digital Civic Sphere” to enhance political communication skills, media literacy, and democratic participation among students, leading to the development of strong and sustainable democratic citizenship within the Thai–Cambodian border context.
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