State Formation of Vietnam

Running head: STATE FORMATION OF VIETNAM
STATE FORMATION OF VIETNAM
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Author Note

1STATE FORMATION OF VIETNAM
Introduction
The state formation in the non west has coincided with that of the formation of the nation
unlike in the west. In the western world the formation of the nation had preceded the formation
of the state. The formation of the state in the non west is thus modelled after the western style,
where it had been as a result of resistance to the imperialist domination. The resurgence of the
commonality of the identity and the similar history of each of the citizens of the country was
necessary to bolster the national identity. The national identity on the other hand was responsible
for the launching of the nationalistic movement against the colonial expansion (Vu, 2016).
For the present purpose, the case of Vietnam shall be taken up for consideration. The
national identity of Vietnam and the nationalist movement against the Imperialist forces of the
United States of America desiring to set up a Capitalist Government in the country. Under the
leadership of Ho Chi Minh, the modern state of Vietnam had been formed. In the proceeding
sections the various aspects of the state formation and the issues related to it shall be discussed.
Formation of the Modern State of Vietnam
It was after the Vietnam War of the 1950s that the country was united. Vietnam was
divided into two different parts, the north and the south along the 11th parallel. As a result of the
First Indo China War, the country was divided into two parts, which had caused the French
occupation to end in the country.The French forces had received support from USA as she was
an ally and a sympathizer of Capitalistic ideologies. However, that did not prove to be beneficial
to the French in maintaining their rule in the nation. That had caused the country to be intervened
by USA, as the perceived threat of the victory of the Communist Forces in the country was
bothering USA who wanted to establish a foothold in the country (Dell, Lane & Querubin,

2STATE FORMATION OF VIETNAM
2018). The basis of the division had also been ideological, and also a result of the fact that Indo
China had been engulfed by the influence of the Cold War, which makes both the reasons to be
integrated and inextricably linked to each other. In the Cold War era, both the US Bloc and the
USSR Bloc had been engaged in a rivalry to make the spread of their ideologies, Capitalism and
Communism successful. Vietnam had like the other countries of South East Asia, Laos,
Cambodia had become a hot bed of struggle between the US and the USSR Bloc. The northern
part of the country had inclinations to the Communist ideology while the South, to that of the
Capitalist ideology (Kim, 2017).
It was only after the Second Indo China War that Vietnam had attained true sovereignty
and autonomy. The Capitalist sympathizing South Vietnam backed by the USA was defeated by
the forces of Ho Chi Minh and that led to the reunification of the country. In the year 1975, after
a twenty five year long struggle between the Vietnamese forces under Ho Chi Minh, that the
South was defeated and in the year 1976 that the Socialist Government of Vietnam was officially
set up and was recognized. That led to the culmination of the modern, sovereign state of Vietnam
after a long period of colonization by France and instability caused by the encroachment of the
Cold War politics (Kerkvliet, 2018).
Political Situation
Soon after the defeat of Capitalist USA backed forces of the South the change in the
entire structure of the government had not taken place. It was only in the year 1976 that the
Socialist Government of Vietnam was set up. In the interim period between 1975 and 1976 the
southern part of the country was being ruled by the Provisional Revolutionary Government led
by Thieu. Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, and the chiefs of the Communist Party Do Moui and
General Vo Nguyen Giap became the architect of the modern nation of Vietnam (To, Mahanty &