On resistance and reform in southeast Asia.

Historian Sean Fear talks to Alex H and Lee Jones about Vietnam on the 50-year anniversary since the end of the war.

How is Vietnamese identity wrapped up with the notion of resistance?

Is Chinese influence as great as resistance to China?

How is the ‘American War’ thought about in Vietnam today?

How similar is Vietnam to China: defying Fukuyama’s thesis by retaining a state-socialist political system while adopting capitalism?

Why has Vietnam achieved rapid growth and development while neighbours have failed?

How is Vietnam reacting to being at the centre of Trump tariff disputes?

For the full episode, subscribe at patreon.com/bungacast

Links:

The Republic of Vietnam, 1955–1975: Vietnamese Perspectives on Nation Building, Sean Fear, Tuong Vu (eds.), Cornell UP

/115/ Singapore Shangri-La ft. Lee Jones

Post-Cold War Vietnam: stay low, learn, adapt and try to have fun – but what about the party?, Adam Fforde