Hegemonism in Thai Country Music A Lesson-Learned Implication in Intercultural Communication
Abstract
This paper investigated Thailand's “hegemonism” towards its neighbors implicitly penned in two famous long-lasting Thai country songs composed in the 1980s. “Siam Muang Yim” or “Siam, the Land of Smiles” and “Sao Song Muang” or “Ladies of the Two Nations” were examined and analyzed mainly through the lens of discourse analysis by Van Dijk (2004). The findings indicated a strong formation of Thai national identity with a sense of habitual inferiorization perception towards the neighboring countries. The revealed outcome may trigger intercultural awareness through a realization of the existing hegemonic practices and attitudes. Lessons learned from ruinous past events may be able to enrich a peaceful and harmonious living among people in the region.
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