Assess the impact of US involvement inIndochina on the nations of the region
The War in Indochinahad a devastating impact on the nations of the region. It not only causedwidespread destruction of people and property, but also disrupted almost every aspect of life in South Vietnam and Cambodia.
The most devastating impact of the war was the number of people killed. More than two million Vietnamese and a similar number of Cambodians lost their lives. There was also extensive damage to property, particularly in South Vietnam, where thousands of villages were destroyed. In addition, the environment suffered critically from American bombing and defoliation. Even North Vietnam, which was never invaded, experienced significant damage.
At a social level, the war transformed South Vietnamese society. The influx of money from the United Statesmade corruption soar. Prostitution, drugs and other social ills became rife. Refugees flooded into the cities to escape the fighting, makingthese places almost unliveable. Saigon became one huge slum.
In North Vietnam, the impact was nowhere near as great. The war actually united the people, as they struggled to deal with theAmerican bombing campaign.
For Cambodia, the consequences were disastrous. A half a million people were killed by B52 strikes in 1973, and the Khmer Rouge killed even more when they assumed power in 1975. Pol Pot’s agricultural policies caused widespread starvation, while his social policies sent the country backwards. Urban areas were abandoned, and people were forced to work on collective farms in slave-like conditions. The Khmer Rouge executed anyone who stole food, had sex outside of marriage or tried to escape. They even killed people who could read. It was all part of their plan to purge society of outside influences.
The economic impact of the war was also immense. South Vietnam became financially dependent upon the United States for its survival. The government’s budget was largely supplied by the US, and many Vietnamese derived their living off the US forces (working as cleaners, drivers, prostitutes and entertainers). With agricultural production devastated, the country could no longer feed itself. Living standards fell for many Vietnamese.
One sector that did flourish was the black market, which was estimated to be worth about $10 billion a year. Corrupt officials and businessmen became extremely rich, and they deposited their ill-gotten gains overseas, where the VC could not get them if the war went badly. This drained the country of badly needed resources.
The impact on North Vietnam was also bad. With so many of its resources devoted to the war, and with much of its industry destroyed by American bombs, the nation became dependant upon the USSR and China.This caused problems once the war ended in 1975, particularly when Vietnam and China fell out.
By far the greatest economic impact of the war was on Cambodia. Pol Pot eliminated the old urban-based society, and replaced it with a rural economy in which money was banned and all trade was done by barter. This resulted in widespread starvation.
The Indochina War also had a significant political impact on the nations of the region. In South Vietnam, the government felt it could ignore the demands of its people and rule dictatorially, since it had the support of the United States. When elections were held, they were rigged, ensuring victory for Generals Thieu and Ky.
In North Vietnam, the war actually increased the government’s popularity. Despite Ho Chi Minh’s dictatorship, people enjoyed more freedom than they did in the South, since they could elect their village chiefs.
In Cambodia, the impact was the worst of all. In 1970, Prince Sihanouk was overthrown by General Lon Nol, and the governmentbecame a military dictatorship. Then, when the Khmer Rouge took charge, the regime became totalitarian – ruled by a mysterious fanaticwho cared nothing for human life.
Hence it can be seen that the war in Indochina had profound effects on the nations of the region. These ranged from the destruction of people and property to the transformation of society. No country felt this more than Cambodia.