Power Relations in the Poems Winning the Phan Waen Fah Award 2023

Abstract

This research article aims to examine the power relations depicted in the thirteen poems that won the Phan Waen Fah Award in 2023. The findings reveal that the poets address power through four primary forms of relationships: (1) between rulers (seen in the conflict between warring nations); (2) between rulers and the ruled (illustrated by family dynamics and the teacher-student relationship); (3) between the ruled and rulers (reflected in interactions between citizens and politicians); and (4) among the ruled (shown through relations between citizens with differing opinions and those promoting democratic values within the nation). The poets effectively employ diverse linguistic strategies to portray the exercise of power, negotiation, and ideological dominance across personal, familial, educational, social, and international contexts. Ultimately, these representations are intended to stimulate reflection and raise awareness among both the rulers and the ruled regarding the legitimate use of power, thereby encouraging positive change within Thai democratic society.