Cambodia

1. Cambodia

2. Statistics and History • Rich history and played the role of a dominant regional power in the 12th and 15th century when it was conquered by Ayutthaya… Subsequent kingdoms suffered pressure and instability until the French took a weak Cambodia as a protectorate in 1864 • 1954 Kingdom of Cambodia becomes independent under leadership of Prince Sihanouk • 1970 Prince Sihanouk removed from power by a military coup led by Lon Nol due to inability to control Vietnamese infringements of Cambodian sovereignty • U.S. massive bombing campaign and intervention in Cambodia contributed to instability that fueled a five year civil culminating with the victory of Khmer Rouge and the founding of Democratic Kampuchea • Pol Pot launched an unprecedented reform of Cambodian society that was in accordance with an agrarian vision of the nation that resulted in over one million and a half deaths and massive displacements – Cambodian Holocaust

3. Statistics and History • 1978 Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia displaces Khmer Rouge and instates HengSamrin and Hun Sen as leaders of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea – Government undid some of the more repressive features of Khmer Rouge regime • Faction of Sihanoukists, the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front, and Khmer Rouge form the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchean and gain UN recognition • Vietnam withdraws from Cambodia • UN Transitional Authority and establish virtual government and run elections – Prince Ranariddh’s United National Front for an Independent, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUCINPEC) and Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party – election goes breaks down with 45% for FUCINPEC and CPP with 38.6% - Hun Sen forces himself into role of second prime minister • 1997 Hun Sen launches coup against Ranariddh – post coup elections were marred by corruption, intimidation, and assassination but yielded CPP 41% and FUNCIPEC 32% • Hun Sen still in power and uses a variety of Machiavellian techniques to balance internal forces and external forces including the international aid community

4. Institutions and Social Groups • King Sihanouk – powerful player in politics but regrets the course of his life – son King Sahamoni building reputation • Hun Sen – Khmer Rouge veteran who sided with Vietnamese and presently presides over the country • Political Parties – Cambodian People’s Party broad based patronage oriented hegemonic party – FUNCINPEC royalist/urban party in decline – Sam Rainsy Party liberal party contained by Hun Sen’s tactics • International Aid Community – 10-15% of Cambodian GDP – 450 NGOs and dozens of UN – affiliated agencies play an important role as a restraint and supporter of Hun Sen’s regime

5. Democratization • Cambodia has never experienced democratic governance – inheritor of god-king tradition • Patronage based authoritarianism is political type that followed the 1993 elections • Civil society has little chance to evolve in the shadow of external actors • Proportional representation rules virtually guarantee CPP dominance • Dangerous to advocate for human rights

6. Economic Development • Mid 80s PRK regime followed Vietnam’s DoiMoi reforms • Cambodia benefited from Multi Fiber Arrangement and continues to play a role in the textile industry • Tourism to historic sites such as AngorWat has been an important part of the economy • Possible oil resources • Economy is generally poorly developed and dependent

7. The Cambodian State • Khmer state was one of the strongest in the world • Dislocation did not yet produce a strong state in Cambodia • Few technocrats, weak military, lack of politically skillful politicians • Hun Sen’s legitimacy is derived from guiding Cambodia in the post Khmer Rouge era, leader of a party elected in multiple elections, and public popularity through patronage • State’s capacity remains weak but hope is for a peace transition and state preservation

8. Foreign Policy • U.S., Vietnamese, and Chinese intervention fueled internal crisis • 1992 China withdrew support from Khmer Rouge • 1999 joined ASEAN • 2003 disputes over historical locations with Thailand but have been calmed as they explore oil resources in their border regions • 2007 trials of Khmer Rouge addressed crimes against the Cambodian people

9. Conclusion • Cambodians have endured horrific conditions in the sixties to the present • In the immediate future, country will continue to have weak state institutions and be under the rule of strong man • Reconstructing Cambodia culturally, politically, and economically is a daunting task