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270. Socialist Narratives from Laos and Vietnam

Sat, March 18, 3:00 to 5:00pm, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Floor: 2nd Floor, Dufferin

Session Submission Type: Organized Panel

Abstract

The phrase “Lao-Vietnamese relations” conjures up such well-worn political slogans as the “Special Relationship” or “Red Brothers,” but rarely goes any deeper than contemporary politics. Since 1975 this image has been carefully constructed in Laos and Vietnam as a historical narrative to be rediscovered by the academia of the two nations. Similarly, Laos and Vietnam tout “ethnic solidarity” as a key ideal of the Socialist revolution. Yet the success of this program has yielded only uneven results: while the historical narrative remains useful up to the present, the value of “ethnic solidarity” has been eroded.

In the history sphere, Lao and Vietnamese historians have striven to extend the well-known "friendship" narrative into the precolonial period to lend it an air of timelessness. Looking back, they make findings such as a Lao-Vietnamese Alliance strengthened in the Tay Son-era to resist Thai and Chinese enemies. Far from this account are the contentious moments of Lao-Vietnamese history such as the division of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang (1694-1707). Even in the twentieth century, the history of the two Communist Parties follows a strict interpretation.

Concerning ethnic minorities, both countries distanced themselves from their opponents by promoting the equality of all ethnic groups. Special privileges were granted and autonomous regions were organized to bring this into effect. However, in recent times this value has been under strain in the face of renewed ethnic majority nationalisms and rapid economic development.

This panel will bring into conversation scholars studying Socialist Narratives from Laos and Vietnam.

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