Vietnam in 1983: Keeping Ideology Alive

Abstract

From the autumn of 1979, when the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) adopted its now-celebrated Sixth Resolution, the country's pragmatic leadership had frequently called for bung ra-an explosion in creative initiative to develop the economy. In the ensuing years, private initiative has indeed given a remarkable boost to agricultural and handicraft production. Under the impulse of material incentives, even the traditionally stagnant state sector has shown some vitality. But in the process, splinters from the capitalistic explosions have also cut into Vietnam's professed goal of socialism and affected the morale of the cadres. The year 1983 in Vietnam was marked by a not very successful effort to whip the party and economy back into shape. In external relations the country remained virtually as isolated as it had been since its 1978-79 invasion of Cambodia. That isolation, along with the country's growing need for goods and investment, and for military support in its continuing conflict with China, led Vietnam into ever greater involvement with Soviet economic planning and closer political ties.