Law Enforcement Dilemmas and Hidden Vices in Cultural Traditions: Voices of Digital Citizens in Sisaket Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the situation and structural patterns of hidden vices in local cultural traditions in Sisaket Province; (2) analyze the gap between traditional cultural myths and the law enforcement efficiency of frontline state officials; (3) investigate the role and influence of digital citizens as public agenda setters; and (4) synthesize preliminary local policy guidelines for sustainable, vice-free cultural tradition management. This qualitative research integrated digital ethnography—analyzing a text corpus of 1,450 digital messages using text-mining software (Voyant Tools)—with in-depth interviews of 3 key informants selected through purposive sampling. The key informants comprised: (1) a law enforcement official, (2) a digital citizen and local media representative, and (3) a local administrative organization leader. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis until data saturation was reached. The findings revealed that traditional cultural events have undergone "hyper-commodification," wherein event organizers established a "double-layered sign shield," leveraging contemporary discourses such as "Soft Power" and "economic stimulation" to cloak hidden commercial vices and operational-level bribery. However, digital vigilantism via local Facebook fan pages successfully executed counter-framing and established a bottom-up public agenda. This triggered a bandwagon effect that compelled high-level policymakers to adopt proactive crisis management to secure public trust. This research recommends transforming digital public opinion into a "Digital Social Contract" through local public hearings operated as an open-governance forum, thereby eliminating the moral bottleneck among local enforcement officers and sustainably resolving socio-cultural conflicts.