The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the relationship
between the Sino-Soviet conflict and contemporary events in
Indochina. I have yet to find a satisfactory analysis of
this relationship. Of course there have been innumerable
specialized books on related subjects, (such as the Sino-Soviet
conflict, or Soviet and Chinese aid and trade policies with
Indochina) but as far as I can gather, no study has focused on
the Sino-Soviet conflict and its relationship with the Indochina
countries of Vietnam, Laos and Kampuchea (Cambodia).
By the very nature of the topic, I am forced to place
limitations on the scope of this paper. Firstly, by necessity,
it will concentrate on events which have occurred in Indochina,
since the United States withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975. This
I hope will prevent the paper from becoming a long winded narrative,
Secondly, I have tried to place this study into a broader analytical
framework, consequently I have placed little emphasis on
describing events.
A final caveat is necessary. The outside observer is often
tempted to impose a great deal of rationality - or his own notion
of what is rational - on a foreign policy process, which, in
reality, may be marked by ambiguity, contradictions and
idiosyncracies. I have tried to guard against this by allowing
different notions of rationality and by a blending of different
rationality concepts that characterize the countries dealt with, (former President Thieu of South Vietnam for example, consulted
his horoscope so as to make better policy decisions; his
astrologer was a high ranking intelligence officer, a former
head of the South Vietnamese Central Intelligence Agency.) 1.
1. Charles E. Morrison and Astri Suhrke. "Strategies of
Survival the foreign policy dilemmas of smaller Asia
States" 1st Edition St. Lucia. Queensland 1978
page IX.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218966 |
| Date | January 1975 |
| Creators | Gray, Alan, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Liberal Studies |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Alan Gray |
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