Vietnam is communist state, a government ruled by a dominant party system. Over the last decade, Vietnam has shown remarkable growth since they have adapted the modernization theory. Vietnam has a spectacular progress in their growth domestic product (GDP), with a GDP of 49.42 billion in U.S dollars in 2005 to a GDP of 171.39 billion in U.S dollars in 2014.They have also achieve a high poverty reduction, from a poverty headcount of nearly 60 percent to 20.7 percent in the past 20 years. Vietnam has become more industrialized, Vietnam’s agricultural shares of economic output has shrink from 25% in the year 2000 to less than 20% in 2013, while industry’s share increased from 36% to more than 42% in the same period. Today, Vietnam is considered to be one of the leading exporters in Southeast Asia. With the top ten exports commodities that include electrical machinery, oil and mineral fuels, footwear, apparel: non knit, apparel: knit, industrial machinery, seafood, coffee and spices, furniture and cereals.
An ongoing debate on whether a Democratic or Autocratic type of government would facilitate fast economic growth. This is an important factor because this could be the reason why Vietnam has grown so quickly. Base on the fact that Vietnam’s economy has rapidly developed, it’s safe to agree that an autocratic government would facilitate faster growth. “Under democracy, politicians seeking reelection have an incentive to reflect the will and interest of a majority
The Vietnam War was costly not only to our armed forces but to our American economy and American morale. We entered the war in an attempt to end the communist regime of North Vietnam and their southern allies, the Vietcong, from taking over South Vietnam. South Vietnam was an ally of the United States and due to this political relationship; the United States was entitled to help defend their ally. More than 58,000 Americans were killed in the Vietnam War. By 1969 it was the peak of American involvement in the war and more than 500,000 U.S. military personnel were involved in the Vietnam conflict. Throughout the war growing opposition towards participation of military forces threatened the support of the war. American citizens began to
The Vietnam War had discredited the United States’ stereotype of being the strongest world power for being “undefeatable” in war by trapping the most powerful foreign nations into a merely undefeatable war, and by destroying any hope that the United States had for institutional change in Vietnam. The United States’ involvement in domestic affairs had again proved that the nation felt confident enough to present itself as the “problem solver” in issues regarding foreign policy. The main intention of Americans was to bring forth an established democracy to Vietnam that would overpower
Mintz and McNeil of Digital History state that Vietnam, like Cambodia and Laos, was a French colony until it gained its independence after the First Indochina War. The Northern supporters and Southern dissenters of communism divided Vietnam during this time. The Geneva Accords, created after the war in 1954, required Vietnam to hold an election between the leaders of the North and South after two years. The US was afraid of what would follow if the North were to win, and decided to intervene in the hopes of stopping the spread of communism. With help from the US, South Vietnam avoided the agreement's orders and cancelled this election; power went to the South Vietnamese prime minister instead.
One of the most prominent influences of art throughout history has been politics. The 50s through 70s in America are a great example of this, for so many of this era’s songs were arguments against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War and criticisms of American politics at the time. However, this phenomenon was prominent long before the Vietnam War and was not just an American trend; in fact, two of the most influential and famous pieces of the early 20th century were products of political oppression on the other side of the world. Both Paul Hindemith, under the Nazi Regime, and Dmitri Shostakovich, under the communist reign of Stalin, managed to fight political oppression through their music. The two composers had very different ways of doing so. Hindemith wrote two separate pieces, one that directly opposed the Nazi regime, and another that was so nationalistic he was forgiven for his previous ‘mistakes’, whereas Shostakovich wrote a single piece which seemed just as nationalistic as Hindemith’s symphony yet it had a deeper, much more rebellious underlying message. Even though their methods’ differed, both Hindemith and Shostakovich were able to express their true feelings about the totalitarian governments that were repressing their artistic ability.
One of the longest war in American History, The Vietnam war, initially started with the US aiding the French in the First Indochina war. Where a temporary peaceful solution was resolved. The temporary solution of peace didn't last long. With the fear of the spread of communism, the US backed a non communist regime which eventually created the Republic of Vietnam. Through out the year the New party in charge of Vietnam (Diem Regime) was found to be corrupt and was replaced with another Regime. None of these US backed Regime seemed to be useful to creating a peaceful Vietnam.
In the past years the discussion of Vietnam War, is one that still is every more common among scholars of American Society, common not without controversy. The controversy surrounding the Vietnam War often is centered in U.S. mentality of playing “savior “ and appearing to be only great, while not owning up or recognizing their faults. There is a common belief among many people that the remembering the vietnam war is no longer important. Those who hold this belief, also believe that the there is no reason to harp on a war that doesn’t matter to the united states and its people. This paper strives to challenge this belief that the war is no longer important and demonstrate why it is vital we remember the Vietnam war. First, this paper will examine a document from Modern History Sourcebook, entitled, Program of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Vietnam, dating back to January 1962. We will examine to see how this document from the Vietnamese still provides value or information to our understanding of what is happening in today’s society. Then the paper will examine a Speech delivered in April 1967, by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., entitled Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence Declaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s Southern Revolution by David Hunt encompasses the history of North Vietnamese peasants, their social and political history, and the story of their uprising against the foreign backed South Vietnam. The RAND corporation, a “think tank” organization that assists research, advocacy, and policy suggestion was utilized by the U.S. military in Vietnam to explore the emergence of the NLF (National Liberation Front) in Northern Vietnam. The NLF, also known as the Vietcong, was the main antagonistic guerilla military force which U.S. forces conducted battle most frequently with in dense jungle brush.
The China-Vietnam Communist Party (CVCP) is the most popular communist party in the United States. The party was found in 1920 by George Lenin and his colleagues. During early years, CVCP had influential role in fighting for democratic rights. For instance, CVCP led the founding of many of America’s industrial unions. It also stood up against racism and segregation in the American societies while Jim Crow period was at its peak. Just two months after its establishment, the party had membership about 70,000, which included anarchists and other radical leftists who were eager for real politics to make real changes in America. While its older and more moderate brother Socialist Party of America was suffering from prosecutions for its antiwar
Vietnam is a densely populated economy that has been transforming from the rigidness of a centrally planned economy since 1986. In 2007 they joined the WTO, which has prompted more export driven industries. In 2010 Vietnam became an official
The United States was unjustified in its involvement in the Vietnam War because, in my opinion, the U.S had little justification to sacrifice thousands of innocent youths for political ideals. It was the longest and most unpopular war in which the United States fought. Many Americans on the home front protested their government’s involvement in the war. Many young Americans felt that there was no reason to fight for a cause they did not believe in, especially in such a strange foreign country. The civil rights movement also strongly influenced many of the war protests. This was because such a large percentage of minority soldiers sent over to fight were being unfairly treated. The African American soldiers
Spark of the Vietnam War due to President Kennedy’s assassination. Since World War II, the United States has been fighting to get rid of communism throughout the war. However, it was not until the war broke out in the southeast, that the American government really began to fear the growing communist parties. The Vietnam War began in 1954, and it was a war between Southern communist Vietnam and Northern Vietnam. It was not until 1965, when America decided to go into Vietnam.
The Vietnam War was a pivotal changing point in the American foreign policy. Through the span of three presidents and the Cold War, Vietnam changed the outlook of America in the world wide arena. After the end of the Indochina war and oppression of Vietnam by the French, the country was split into the north and the south along the 17th parallel. Following the declaration of the Geneva Accord there was to be a demilitarized zone along the north and the south of the 17th parallel and each side of the nation would have 300 days to remove their personnel from the opposing side of the country. North Vietnam, or the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, was controlled by the Vietnamese Communist Party (Worker’s Party) the
In an effort to answer the first question asked was Ho Chi Minh a communist I would have to say no. However there is a caveat and that is he was pushed into becoming a communist, because in his and his countrymen’s opinion they were disrespected by the West after WWII. They supported the allies, they even had a sector to monitor and maintain in Germany during WWII, but when asked to be treated equally, by the West they were cast a side by the Western leaders.
To understand the US involvement in Vietnam, it is necessary to understand the background of traditional independence and opposition to larger powers throughout Vietnamese history. The Vietnamese had a long history and tradition of opposing invading powers. This opposition and culture was to draw the U.S. into the longest war it has been involved in. This was an indirect but vitally important cause of US involvement in the Vietnam War. As early as 500BC, Vietnam was a country that held a strong sense of nationalism, and endeavoured for the goal of autonomy, independence, and self-rule. Up until modern history, there have been several events that have contributed towards intensifying this sense of nationalism and resistance against foreign powers. National resistance against the Chinese empire was one of the earliest examples of resistance against nationalism. Throughout the period of pre-modern history from 210 BC to 1789, resistances against foreign control and rule such as that against the Nan Yue, the Song, the Ming, and the Qing, were frequent. These attempts at national resistance came down to the basis that the nationalist Vietnamese did not want foreign influence determining the political future, culture, or customs of their country. Another main example that increased a sense of nationalism was French Colonialism. The French, who were appealed by Vietnam’s unique location, natural resources, and the extensive economic opportunities
Vietnam is politically very stable and with one party control i.e. Communist Party, the country continues to achieve higher political stability. “Political” aspect is very important for Vietnam as the country continues to have many State Owned Enterprises (SOE) that play major roles in economy of the country. Therefore, it is important for Vietnam to have a stable government that is able to provide good governance and control over SOEs and other business activities. There are some good decisions taken by current government such as freedom of press. However, the country faces some disputes over certain matters such as Vietnam – China and U.S. – Vietnam tensions are major concerns for government. These tensions make it difficult for government to