“Othering”

Dr. Zevallos’ website and the book Cry, the Beloved Country display similar themes about the concept of othering. Dr. Zevallos talked about the importance of power, and how social institutions such as law, education, and the media hold the ultimate power in deciding what is correct and normal. In the book, the concept of power is also evident in the way different ethnicities both socially and legally, thereby, enforcing the value of othering. And it is the difference in power that caused othering not only in Thailand, but in the global world.

Throughout history, we see the abuse of power to enforce othering, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Jim Crow Law era. In today’s world, authority figures abuse their power by indiscriminately deporting immigrants, and arresting and shooting colored people because they can. People in the social institutions of power have their own representation of what is normal and will rid of groups of people who are different. In Thailand, many immigrants from neighbouring countries are being deprived of their rights and abused by authority officers due to the concept of othering. Most often, these people are poor, while those in power are rich and making othering more obvious.