Center and Periphery in the Cold War: Soviet Economic Aid to Vietnam, 1954–1975

Abstract

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) had no common border, no colonial ties, and no traditional direct trade. However, since the First Indochina war, the close Soviet-Vietnam relationship roots in the communist bloc led to the economic contacts between Hanoi and Moscow. This relationship bloomed during 1965–1973 when the US forces were directly involved in South Vietnam. By tapping the declassified materials from Vietnamese archives, this paper sheds light on the notion of center and periphery in the Cold War. It seems that the superpowers were able to play a dominant global role not only through the deployment of powerful weapons but also through the use of financial resources. However, the DRV was not controlled by their allies, and completely be proactive with their decisions during their struggle for national reunification.