Bài giảng Vietnam history and politics

Vietnam: History and Politics By Huyen Nguyen, University of Griffiths, 8/10/2012 What is Vietnam for you? Your objectives for learning about Vietnam? Country overview: touring Vietnam Country Overview: Geodemographical Introduction Important facts: - S shaped, 3200km coastal, diverse topography and climate (Tropical) - UNFPA (2010) 89 mil, projected 111.7 mil in 2050, ranking 14th in the world S = 330000 km2 - 10 countries, 300 mil of people depend on the Sea: 5/10 of the main marine roads through or related to East Sea (south china sea) Chinese source: 313 billion of oil barrels yet exploited, only after Arab Saudi (unverified) Compared with Norway: mil/385000 km2 and Queensland 4.5/1850000 km2 Objectives of the lecture (3 hours) • Part I: History; Part II: Political System; • Quiz • Objectives: – Overview of Vietnam – Main historical features as foundation for understanding the political system – Introduction to political system and some issues regarding accountability, central-local relations PART I: HISTORY Part I The origins of Vietnam According to Justin Corfield 2008 The History of Vietnam Greenwood Santa Barbara, USA • History mostly recorded by the Chinese and the French Vietnamese themselves have written history until later around 11th century • Archeology mostly by the French – human remains since Paleolithic era c 10000 BCE • Dating from: – 9000-7000 BCE Hoa Binh Culture (stone) to Bac Son period until 3000 BCE – 2500-1500 BCE Phung Nguyen culture (agri bronze) to Dong Son period until 600 BCE – bronze drum as national symbol – Then the semi-legendary Hung Kings • Links: to southern China but also links in form of customs with South East Asians Of Viet-Muong blend ethnically and culturally Part I The origins of Vietnam 4000 years for Vietnamese people, dating from the legendary creation of the first kingdom… Roughly 2000 years in written history… • During reign of Chinese Emperor Chin Shih Huang Di, a commander Trieu Da – Blending in ethnic and also culture – Chinese assimilation Southern China and Au Lac program yet nationalism into a separate Southern Viet remained… (Nam Viet) with the capital at Guangzhou, until 111 BCE under Han Emperor Wu Ti • Nationalist uprisings by the Trung sisters (40 AD) and until 938 with Ngo Quyen’s successful independent strive Part I 1000 years under China Part II Communism came to Vietnam Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh: went to the West instead, touring France, the UK, the USA, Russia, before going back to China, HongKong, Thailand… During the trip he found: - Socialism – Communism: But it was nationalism that brought him to Communism (encountered with Lenin’s Thesis on National and Colonial Questions) SAVE US! - (ed) The Revolutionary Youth League of Vietnam (In Guangchou, about 1924-before 1927) 3/2/1930 establishment of Vietnam Communist Party - What did Ho find in Lenin’s thesis that made him decide to adopt communism for Vietnam? Part II Communism in Vietnam How much were the Vietnamese ready for democracy? Could democracy hold? What did communism bring to Vietnam? - Ideology against the enemies - Brothers, a trail and help - Organization - Revolutionary forces (peasants and workers) Weighing democracy and communism Was communism behind Vietnam’s success in getting out of the wars? • The Democratic Republic of Vietnam: - Declaration of Independence (1945): quotes from French and American on civil and human rights - First popular election, power sharing government - First constitution: no mentioning of Communism • French came back to Indochina, first resistance war: democracy to fail the first trial, communist cohesion • A question on the influence of Mao on the organization of Viet Minh especially from 1950 Truong Chinh – The Long March and Le Duan – to increase his leadership as the soul of the resistance towards the end of this war • The North was liberated with Geneva Accord and made a showcase of socialism • America-backed Diem took the South Vietnam was divided on the verge of a civil war against the backdrop of Cold War Part II Communism in Vietnam (cont.) By design in the 1959 constitution: - Party-state with monopoly of power and economy - No power separation - Hierarchical state structure - Centralized bureaucratic planning - All state owned, subsidized and managed • Land reform in 1954-1956: serious mistakes? • The Nhan Van – Giai Pham controversy (humanitydignity): an ideological split between the disillusioned and hardline socialists • New Constitution promulgated in 1959 to confirm the role of the Communist Party and set Vietnam firm on the Stalinist state model Illustration: Centrally planning Vietnam - State owned, centrally planning, monopoly… Shortage, inflation, inefficiency Aid dependence Closed society – no freedom of speech, thinking and so forth Comprehensive crisis • Part II Reforms The current system in Vietnam: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam Same underlying power principles: - power monopoly of the Communist Party; - state continued monopoly over economy/SOEs Special: - Socialist-oriented market economy - Socialist democracy: - - Work division between the Party and the State: reconciliation Loss of appeal for socialist ideology; performance-based legitimacy National Assembly (parliament) to assume more weight in policy debate and supervision although still under party’s sway The rule by law (instead of law) Grassroots democracy ordinance: an education campaign? Context: – Reforms in the USSR, drop in aid from Eastern Europe – Reforms in China since 1978 • Timing: – 1986 after General Secretary Le Duan died – Immense inflation and economic difficulties • What? – Economic first and foremost: • • • Price – salary – money/SOEs having autonomy in their activities Individual agricultural households to get the extra once the due paid Market economy: abolition of centrally planning and subsidy, multi-sectored economy with private enterprises allowed, open door policy – attraction of FDI – International Relations: multilateral, normalization with China, the USA and the world after withdrawal from Cambodia – Brief political redirection (from 1986-1989) But 1989: China’s Tianmen, collapse in Eastern Europe, then collapse of the USSR… Decided to leave political reforms untouched – Ambitious Public Administration Reforms program… NATIONAL ASSEMBLY President of State Part II Current political system Supreme People’s Procuracy Government People’s Court at Provinces Ministries People’s Committee at Provinces • • • Nearest Constitution: 1992, amended in 2001 People’s = all state powers belong to the people People to take power through the National Assembly and People’s Councils (elected) President is the representative of the State No separation of power Division of power instead Administrative fusion due to party’s integration into the state system People’s Council at Provinces People’s Committee at Districts People’s Council at Districts People’s Committee at Communes People’s Council at Communes People’s Procuracy at Provinces People’s Procuracy at Districts People’s Court at Provinces People’s Court at Provinces Edited from Mai Thi Kim Hue’s draft Part II Current political system (cont.) More Illustrations… Vietnam's Political Process: ‪How education shapes political decision making‪ Casey Lucious 2009 Taylor & Francis… Part II Communism in Vietnam (cont.) The reasons and justification for Stalinist state model: - Hierarchical principle of organization within the socialist bloc, the USSR as the model for copying - Based on Marx’s critiques of capitalism for private ownership and exploitation, contrasting with capitalism (as it went extreme) - One way of explaining the system, according to Janos Kornai (1992) and Maria Csanadi (1997), the system was the result of an evolution from the core of power monopoly of the party-state - Not the formal hierarchy, the informal power network counts Outstanding advantages in time of wars and for protection of the regime: a politico-social system in which an individual’s well-being depends on his connection and information Great sacrifice from those forming the base of the power pyramid required And political rationality in the place of efficiency Vietnam’s Political System in Comparative Perspective How different is the Norwegian system from these systems? Australia vs Vietnam Australia Vietnam • Different in the organizational and functional principles: pluralist liberal democracy) and partial power separation - trias politica) • Different in the organizational format: federal-state with high autonomy for local authorities Localities (councils) have great autonomy in HR and policy making along with responsibilities and resources at discretion • Public services: levels – Federal – State – Council • Single-party state and power concentration – National Assembly to take legislative role while supervise the executive and judicial branches (Party behind all this) • unitary, hierarchical Local levels work within the framework set by the state with limited autonomy (Decentralization) • Four levels – Central, province, district, commune – one line of management Australia vs Vietnam: Main Points • Responsibility system/Accountability : – (UK and Australia) Government (PM and Cabinet) is responsible to Parliament: Parliament has rights to dissolve government anytime through a motion of no confidence followed by a new election (US) Parliament has no rights to dismiss the President except in court-related case Vietnam: NA can question the PM and Ministers but more for formality – (UK and Australia), general election can be held anytime In Australia, the Governor General can, at request by PM, dissolve the Parliament and start a reelection => Parliament is responsible to its constituency (esp in case a policy is stalled by opposition or alliance of small parties) (US), fixed terms for upper, lower houses and also for president => no early election: when a president dies or steps down, vice president will take over; the president can not dissolve the parliament – (US) President and Cabinet have no seats in the Houses and thus may not be dismissed by the Houses and can not dissolve the Houses Judicial branch is separated from the Government and the Houses Judges appointed by nomination of President by upper house and can be dismissed only in exceptional cases (UK & Australia) Independent judicial branch but government and parliament are overlapping (partial separation): ministers have to be parliament members, government can be dissolved by the parliament and PM can request dissolution of the parliament Australia and Vietnam: Central – local relation • Autonomy; – (US and Australia) Federal vs state authorities: definition of rights, each side can not change rights of the other and can not introduce laws/regulations in the area responsible by the other side Eg State governments can not take individual income tax (and thus may not promulgate any regulation related) but they can levy land tax (UK) Parliament can legislate on all aspects, local governments have rights as agreed by the central government http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts /mhpir/politics_and_international_relations/staff/john_kilcullen/a_compariso n_of_australian_british_canadian_and_us_political_systems/ • Vietnam: decentralization – increased autonomy for local authorities: – Budget: by negotiation – Investment Quiz: choose at least questions and provide short answer • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • How much times higher is population density in Vietnam compared to Norway? (roughly) In what aspects is Vietnam close to East Asian and in what aspects to South East Asian? What in the Hong Duc law code that reflects Vietnam legal ideas? How you understand of the following Vietnamese saying: “the King’s laws stop at village gates”? Name two trading centers in feudalistic era in Vetnam What nationality of the first Western people to arrive in Vietnam Who was Alexander de Rhodes? What was the role of Pigneau de Behaine in Vietnam’s history? Which Nguyen King that ceded land to the French? Which King went to France? And which King rebelled against the French domination? What was the main economy of Vietnam under French colonialism? Who wrote “Le proces colonisation Francaise” and when? Why did Hochiminh succeeded where other nationalists failed? Why you think Hochiminh cited French and American in Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence? Why couldn’t Vietnam gain peace in 1954? Why you think Vietnam intervened into Cambodia and why China decided to “teach Vietnam a lesson”? Reasons to reforms in Vietnam in 1986? When did socialism get its role confirmed in Vietnam? Compare Vietnam’s system and Norway’s system of politics in terms of power principles and central-local relations THANK YOU! [...]... resources and cont sufferings for the people – Strained relation between Vietnam and China Vietnam to rely on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe War again: Illustration - Third Indochina War- China, Vietnam and Cambodia As a result of split between Vietnam (USSR) and China 17/2/1979 – 5/3/1979 Chinese: 300000 troops – to destroy! Destruction on site, destruction of the relationship and isolation for Vietnam. .. Medieval Vietnam Ngo Quyen set up 1st dynasty Feudal Vietnam: Ngo – Dinh – Le – Ly – Tran – Le – Nguyen until 1958 when French came and 1945 independence and modern Vietnamese state • Wars: to defend itself from Northern empire and also to expand to the south Victory made kings – – – – – – Ngo Quyen and Bach Dang battle, Dinh Tien Hoang and the unification, Ly Thuong Kiet with Nam Quoc Son Ha so-called Vietnam s... become weak In 1858 French ships came and took Tourane port city (Da Nang), marking the start of French domination Tu Duc ceded land and Vietnam was independent until 1887 when French deposed King Ham Nghi and placed the court under their control Vietnam encountering the West – illustration: Tourane battle 3000 French and Portugese vs 2500 and 2000 reinforcement Vietnamese Nguyen Tri Phuong: guerrila... president of South Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh also from Central Vietnam, travelled to the West, adopted Communism and succeeded => first president of the modern state of Vietnam (1945) Part I Independence came with the Wars The birth of the modern state of Vietnam: The DRV First and second Indochina Wars… • 1945: independence – citing both French and American – The Democratic Republic of Vietnam • 1946-1954:... social-political aspects and little technical aspects although great crafts Ethics most valued and trading scorned as low – Village – agricultural customs and practices – water puppetry, Quan Ho folksongs as e.g • Trade and cultural exchanges: Faifo (Centre), Pho Hien (North): – Pho Hien: North – Chinese, Netherlands, British traders and so on… since 15 and peaked in 17th, 18th century Part I Vietnam encountered... factories: 100000 workers in textile and mines and so on Both workers and peasants poorly paid and suffering Little improvements brought to Vietnam s society by the French: by 1939, only 15% of school-age people to school, 4/5 population illiterate, 2 doctor per 100000 people while 25 in Philippines and 67 in Japan => poverty was added by diseases (malaria, cholera ) French in Vietnam: illustration – Les Proces... Ming and Nguyen – against the Chinese Qing and the French • Peace = intervals of 200-400 years: rebuild, rewrite, lawmaking (not until Le dynasty in 15th century – Hong Duc law code), trade and develop • Nguyen dynasty: adoption of Chinese style court organization, Nationalism on with Ao Dai and so on… History of Vietnam Adapted from table from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hist ory_of _Vietnam. .. Orange victims (Kolko 1997:2) • Distorted and drained economy, relying on aids Part I War again: Third Indochina War- China, Vietnam and Cambodia Could Vietnam avoid the 3rd war? • 1979-1989 • Vietnam s intervention into Cambodia against Pol Pot’s genocide regime • China’s teaching Vietnam a lesson: eviction of Chineseorigin capitalists, boat people • Results: – Vietnam stayed in Cambodia until 1989:... colonialization Ineffective bureaucracy… Wealth to France and little improvements for Vietnam • • • • • French Indochina: Cochinchina (Saigon Vietnam) as colony (direct administration) + 4 protectorates (indirect rule) of Annam (central Vietnam) , Tonkin (northern Vietnam) , Laos and Cambodia All under governor general with headquarter in Cochinchina and resident superieur in capitals of 4 protectorates... Youth League of Vietnam (In Guangchou, about 1924-before 1927) 3/2/1930 establishment of Vietnam Communist Party - What did Ho find in Lenin’s thesis that made him decide to adopt communism for Vietnam? Part II Communism in Vietnam How much were the Vietnamese ready for democracy? Could democracy hold? What did communism bring to Vietnam? - Ideology against the enemies - Brothers, a trail and help - Organization