In “Imagined Communities,” Benedict Anderson raises a discussion on nationalism and the roots of its emergence in different cultural situations. Powerfully, Anderson states, “nationalism thinks in terms of historical destinies, while racism dreams of eternal contaminations, transmitted from the origins of time through an endless sequence of loathsome copulations: outside history,” relatable to the Vietnamese case of nationalism (Anderson, 148-9). The emergence of this patriotic sentiment can be attributed to ‘outside history,’ and the slow, but evident disintegration of a said cultural identity. ‘Outside history’ and the threatening presence of outside forces were all to easy to despise. With an obvious, discernible enemy, it was only natural for the Vietnamese to desire self-sufficiency, and to target the said enemy. For the French, ridding Vietnam of its cultural ties and identity was a key factor in their subjugation of the people themselves (Anderson, 126-7).
The French prioritized severing Vietnam’s historical and cultural ties with the Chinese in an attempt to smother any indigenous convocation and pride. The French also attempted to route out any ‘dangerous’ ideas and potential revolution through literature seeping into Vietnam from China. This was especially the case after the 1890s, when reformers Liang Ch’i-ch’ao and K’ang Yu-wei, and nationalists including Sun Yat-sen had published works geared toward solidarity and expulsion of foreign oppression. As a result, civil service exams which were highly Confucian in nature, were abolished. In lieu of a Confucian system, a French colonial education system was set up. This helped create a new generation of Vietnamese; those who would become French-speakers and writers, and ...
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... illustrate to his audience, the tyranny in colonialism and although many Vietnamese believed Hồ’s works to be radical, he was able to use his words to influence many Vietnamese to rise in unison against a common oppressor.
Vietnamese communists, in addition to Hồ, were staunch believers in their goal of attaining independence. They were adamant in opposing the French and any other force who worked against them, including the Americans. The communists abided by a common ideology, making it much easier for them to build a common identity, using universality and community as backdrops to their desire for independence. With conformity and individual sacrifices for the greater benefit of the nation in mind, the communists’ influence on the minds of the people was evident. They were able to reach out to those who were long forgotten by the South Vietnamese regime:
Herring begins his account with a summary of the First Indochina War. He reports that the Vietnamese resisted French imperialism as persistently as they had Chinese. French colonial policies had transformed the Vietnamese economic and social systems, giving rise to an urban middle class, however; the exploitation of the country and its people stimulated more radical revolutionary activity. Herring states that the revolution of 1945 was almost entirely the personal creation of the charismatic leader Ho Chi Minh. Minh is described as a frail and gentle man who radiated warmth and serenity, however; beneath this mild exterior existed a determined revolutionary who was willing to employ the most cold- blooded methods in the cause to which he dedicated his life. With the guidance of Minh, the Vietminh launched as a response to the favorable circumstances of World War II. By the spring of 1945, Minh mobilized a base of great support. When Japan surrendered in 1945, the Vietminh filled the vacuum. France and the Vietminh attempted to negotiate an agreement, but their goals were irreconcilable.
Lawrence’s purpose in writing this book was concise and to the point. In recent history, due to the fall of the Soviet bloc, new information has been made available for use in Vietnam. As stated in the introduction, “This book aims to take account of this new scholarship in a brief, accessible narrative of the Vietnam War… It places the war within the long flow of Vietnamese history and then captures the goals and experiences of various governments that became deeply embroiled in the country during the second half of the twentieth century” (Lawrence, 3.) This study is not only about the American government and how they were involved in the Vietnam conflict, but highlights other such countries as France, China, and the Soviet Union. Lawrence goes on to say that one of his major goals in writing this book is to examine the American role in Vietnam within an international context (Lawrence, 4.) Again, this goes to show that the major purpose of Lawrence’s study included not only ...
Nationalism has been a potent force for change since the development of human civilization. However, opinion about the extent to which nationalism may be appropriately pursued is highly diverse, a factor that has led to immense tragedy and suffering in countless regions worldwide. While it is both appropriate and sometimes encouraged to take pride in being part of a nation, it is of the utmost importance that it is done without harming or subjugating people of another. Uniting a people by force and potentially eliminating or destroying those who may oppose it or not belong to it is unacceptable ethically, morally, and socially.
When Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh and his political organization, the Vietminh, seized control of their independence from France United States Politicians saw it as another communist take over. When really Ho was more a nationalist than a communist. All Minh wanted was for the United States to recognize its independence from France and to send aid to help it reach its nationalistic goals. "Before the Cold War Ho and the Vietmin...
“The Bushmen are primitive and naturally so, but we are primitive in an artificial sense, and by virtue of the utmost effort” (274). This quote written by Erich Maria Remarque in All Quiet on the Western Front calls attention to the division and inhumanity of the masses in the first World War. Ordinary people hated others that were across a non-physical border because they were convinced that they were the enemy. However, Paul argues that the people who the soldiers are killing are not the enemies. The enemies are the people who don’t risk their lives on the battlefield yet think they can make decisions about a war where thousands are brutally killed everyday. The concept of nationalism is a prime example of the values and misconceptions of European people at the start of the 20th century.
The story focuses on her great-grandfather, who was in disapproval of the French occupation of Vietnam, but still excelled at his job as a Mandarin under the puppet imperial court, fearing persecution of his family if he were to resign. In this section, the author also mentions more about the how the values of confusion had influenced the Vietnamese people in attempts to justify her great grandfather’s
Bao Ninh's The Sorrow of War is a contrapuntal reading to American literature on the Vietnam War. But rather than stand in stark contrast to Tim O' Brien's The Things They Carried, The Sorrow of War is strangely similar, yet different at the same time. From a post-colonialist standpoint, one must take in account both works to get an accurate image of the war. The Sorrow of War is an excellent counterpoint because it is truthful. Tim O' Brien writes: ". . . you can tell a true war story by its absolute and uncompromising allegiance to obscenity and evil." (O' Brien, 42) Bao Ninh succeeds in this respect. And it was for this reason that the Vietnamese government initially banned The Sorrow of War. A thorough textual and historical examination of both the war and post-war experience of Vietnam reveals that its experience was similar to, if not worse than, that of America.
The Indochina war caused a spark especially in terms of the cold war. Conflict between the super powers, Soviet Union and the United States, rose. Vietnam became a point of dispute throughout the world. Several countries wanted to stake a claim of some kind on Vietnam. The resemblance between Phuong’s uncaring nature and the domineering presence of the other character greatly resembles that which happened to Vietnam during the war. Pyle and fowler both want Phuong to be taken care of, but each in their own way. Much like France wants to maintain control over Vietnam and the United States want to make it democratic. The country was easily overtaken by the other powers of the world be its own naivety, lack of its own powerful free will, and reservations of opinion.
Nationalism has a long history although most scholarly research on Nationalism only began in the mid-twentieth century. Some scholars point to the French Revolution of 1789 as the birth of Nationalism. The French Revolution is seen...
He sees that it is the weaker party , which only has a personnel strength of approximately 50,000 personnel to fight against America and its allies with modern equipment and weaponry . In addition to strength in terms of personnel , the leader of Vietnam 's Ho Chi Minh communist movement also realize that military equipment and soldiers fighting capability is very limited . But in terms of mastery of the battlefield as well as the support of the community in the Vietnam war , it is a positive factor and excellence in the fight against the Americans .
The colonialism of which the Vietnamese suffered for over a century was partially caused by their own intolerance. French interest in Vietnam began in the 16th century, as the rest of Europe began an obsession with Asian goods, and Christian missionaries were looking to convert natives. In Vietnam, priests and traders found their work to be impossible, as V...
Ho’s strong developing feelings of nationalism at a young age had a long-lasting impact in his years as a revolutionary. For instance, he went to memorial services at a temple for revolutionaries who were killed in the resistance against the French (Duiker 24). As he grew older, Ho’s hatred of foreigners and their practice of imperialism increased. In 1901, Ho was shocked to hear of the poor treatment of Vietnamese laborers recruited by the French to construct a new highway into Laos. Specifically, some peasants who worked on the bridge came back injured, diseased and malnourished, ...
Nationalism has played a crucial role in world history over the past centuries. It continues to do so today. For many, nationalism is indelibly associated with some of the worst aspects of modern history, such as the destructive confidence of the Napoleon’s army and the murderous pride of Nazi Germany. Large numbers of people, descent in their hearts, have carried out unbelievable atrocities for no better reason than their nation required them to. Authoritarian and totalitarian regime have crushed dissent, eliminated opposition, and trampled on civil liberties in the name of the nation.
The Vietnamese people’s movement was very well coordinated during the Pacification period. The rebellion was not only led by court mandarins, but also by private scholars. The moral and military power of some of the rebel ...
“The existing nationalism literature is a conceptual labyrinth characterized by questionable instruments, lack of empirical data, and poor explanatory power”