Nationalism in Vietnam

Paper Summary:

Despite certain liberalization measures since the late 1980s, Vietnam is still ruled by the Communist Party. The old conservative faction dominates the top leadership, while a younger and more reform-minded generation of leaders are filling the junior positions. The paper shows that today, in the communist regimes, appeals to nationalism continue to be applied for various problems, from purging internal opponents to defending against international accusations of human right violations. A discussion of nationalism and the political and economic state of Vietnam in this paper shows that the rise of nationalism is a direct result of the communists using nationalism to hold the country together by a thread; yet, as they tighten political control and loosen economic control, the youth who care little for the past grow in numbers in their calls for opportunity in their own country.

From the Paper:

"Vietnam, after all, is not under siege. It has no discernible foreign enemy. Though still among the poorest countries in the world, it has a growing opportunity and a small but conspicuous middle class. While previous generations may have been moved by nationalism, the up and coming generation definitely is not. Nationalism, the cause of so much bloodshed this century, was woven so closely with communism that when the ideology shattered after the Cold War ended, nationalism, the emotional backbone of communism, fell from grace."

More papers on Nationalism in Vietnam:

• Book Review # 133646 : "Tim O'Brien: The Reality of Combat in Vietnam"
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• Term Paper # 125665 : "Who Won the Vietnam War?"

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