Independent Vietnam: democracy versus traditionalism: 1945-1946 - the early XXI Century

This paper is an attempt to comprehend the origins of the most important alterations in socio-political and cultural life of Vietnamese society that trace back to 1945, and to the beginning of 19th century. Since the announcement of independence and formation of Democratic Republic, Vietnam has gone through a difficult historical path marked with two slaughterous wars, division of the country and transformation of the political regime and social order. Over this period new generations of Vietnamese grew up, new cultural landmarks and values emerged and went through a long process of adaptation or sometimes rejection, which has not finished up to this day. Another important phenomenon in Vietnamese political life is worth noting: despite of these significant changes in society and polity, Communist Party of Vietnam, established by Ho Chi Minh as far back as in early 1930-s, remains state's permanent and self-perpetuating leader. After 1945 until now CPV comes as a sole initiator and guarantor of the most crucial processes in Vietnamese society.

independence, revolution, democracy, power, party, state, constitution, globalisation, tradition