Coercive Power and State Formation in Northern Vietnam

Abstract

Archaeological researchers have long contemplated the origins of ancient statesState , and ongoing research has produced numerous theoretical explanations accounting for archaic state formation. Although the array of cases from varied geographic and temporal settings reflects localized, historical particularities and cultural variability, many researchers have noted general patterning and commonalities in contributing factors for political centralization. Garnering much scholarly attention is the phenomenon of warfareWarfare , along with attendant cultural practices related to coercionCoercion . A central question has centered on the relationship between coercive power and the political consolidation of persistent authority inherent to statesState . Using a case study from prehistoric northern Vietnam, this chapter explores the relationship between sociopolitical change and leadership strategies related to competition, militarism, and ideological influence. The case elucidates how coercive power was a vital and pivotal component of a sociopolitically transformative process, one which resulted in the establishment of permanent and institutionalized forms of political authority in Vietnam’s Red River delta over two thousand years ago. Specifically, this chapter deals with archaeological and textual data related to the Co Loa settlement, located in the Red River delta near present-day Hanoi. According to a mixture of folklore and textual accounts, the heavily fortified city was purportedly founded by the semi-legendary kingdom of Au Lac during the third century BC.