Vietnam: Anatomy of a Peace

By Gabriel Kolko

Book Overview

Vietnam has experienced large political and economic development since the war. This book argues that victory in 1975 caught the Communists wholly unprepared to cope with the reconstruction of the nation. Much is explored in this book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415159903
• ISBN13: 9780415159906
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Tragedy in Perspective

Kolko reminds us that the Vietnamese were fighting _for_ something, not just against the U.S. in their tragic and destructive war. While the goal of _de jure_ independence was achieved, the dream of a just society languished. Kolko illustrates how this goal was destroyed by Communist authoritarianism, a costly war against Pol Pot, Western (and IMF) pressures, and the greed for power and money of Vietnam's new elite. In Vietnam's uncertain future, Kolko argues, only democracy and a renewed commitment to establishing social justice can win back the peace.The book concludes with a deeply moving epilogue on the necessity and risks of resisting injustice, that everyone alive should read.