Political Realism - Laos - Essay Example

Political Realism Introduction International relations theory is concerned with the development of a theoretical framework in which the status of nations can be understood in the light of global conditions. These theories are methodical as they seek to explain various concepts by focusing on various suppositions. The two main international relations theory have been Realism and Liberalism. Another theory has been Marxism which has been a criticism of international relations theory. Realism is based on the belief that states or nations will formulate policies based upon their military and economic interests. The theory rejects the notion that values and principles of any ideology will be the guiding principles of national policies. Laos is a small landlocked state in South East Asia which has been under the rule of a socialist and communist oriented regime since the 1970s. The country has been isolated as it pursued social, political, economic, and diplomatic policies which were in line with the objectives and interests of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Vietnam and USSR were the main allies of the country which pushed forward the communist takeover of the country following the withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam during the 1970s. The collapse of the Soviet Union and Communist bloc led to wide ranging consequences for Laos. It has been trying to reorient and refocus its system in order to survive. This paper uses the theory of Realism to evaluate the strength and weakness of Laos within the international political system. It also analyzes the main policies of the country using the concepts of Realism. It also makes recommendations which can help benefit the country in improving its economic, political, diplomatic, and social conditions. Lao People’s Democratic Republic Laos is a small landlocked country which is surrounded by powerful countries like China and Vietnam. During the colonial age the country came under French occupation where it was governed like a protectorate. The 1970s witnessed the supremacy and domination of the communist insurgents which overthrew the monarchy (Hiebert, 175). Political conditions The country is a socialist country ruled by a single party which is the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. The Politburo creates the policies of the government. A constitution was created in the early 1990s which gave the ruling party special powers and roles in the political system of the country. Other political parties were strictly banned in the country while the press is also regulated and controlled by the government. A small insurgency is also prevalent against the regime with a number of attacks launched against government and military targets in 2005 and 2006 (Hey, 156). Economic conditions The economy is still in a state of underdevelopment due to years of mismanagement and wrong economic policies. The isolated status of the country together with poor infrastructure has also contributed to its comparative backwardness. Data collected from international economic organizations have found that the country has a GDP of eight hundred dollars in 2007 (Hey, 158). Subsistence farming is the main occupation of the population while foreign aid and loans are the main source of revenue for the country. The country was reported to have a debt of four billion dollars in 2007. During the late 1980s and 1990s the country embarked upon a limited program of economic liberalization and privatization. It signed accords with multilateral agencies to implement free market reforms in the country. While the progress has been slow, the economy has been improving as compared with the 1970s. As the incomes of the people have increased, there has also been increased foreign investment and availability of consumer goods. The country has also been eager to promote tourism and development as a source of revenue and income (Hey, 158). Infrastructure is also being developed as major projects in agriculture and industry have been designed and developed with assistance from multilateral agencies. Social conditions Since the 1990s, the standard of living has improved for a large percentage of the people of Laos. Foreign investment has increased which has improved the infrastructure and industrial strength of the country. However the majority of people live in the rural areas that are dependent upon subsistence agriculture for their livelihood. This means that the majority of people are still poor who do not have access to adequate health, educational, employment, and basic amenities. Internal and External conflicts During the communist takeover the country adopted a hostile attitude towards the West. It maintained close relations with the USSR and communist nations. A special treaty was signed with Vietnam in the late 1970s which ignited tensions with China (Hiebert, 175). Since the decline of the communist bloc, the country has reoriented its foreign policy to make better relations with neighboring countries and Western powers. Diplomatic relations with the United States were reopened in the early 1990s (Svensson, 169). The country has also moved towards better ties with China as increased investment from the latter has helped to grow the economy. The country has an external conflict with Thailand regarding some border regions. A small insurgency conducted by opponents of the communist government plagues the country with small scale attacks against regime targets. Theory of Realism Realism is a political theory which explains the international relations between states. This theory explains that the policies of nations are guided by their economic or military interests. It rejects the notion that ideals or ethics would be the guiding principle for the generation of national policies (Booth, 25). The global system is characterized by the lack of checks and balances that result in nations seeking to dominate others. Governments have real influence and power inside international relations as opposed to non state actors, non governmental organizations, and multinational companies. The international relations between various states is guided by the principle of self interest as opposed to the creation of regional blocs or alliances which might serve the collective interests of the world. Each sovereign state seeks to survive and secure its external and internal borders which are the basis for the creation of their national plans and strategies (Booth, 29). Nations continue to acquire and develop resources for their economic, military, political, and social objectives. The relations between groups of nations are determined by the comparative strength and power of the members. A powerful nation with an advanced economy is more likely to dominate and maintain relations with its weaker neighbors (Booth, 30). The theory of Realism proposes that pragmatism is the defining characteristic of national strategy and survival. Each nation has to be pragmatic because international relations are an evolutionary field which can create a new set of challenges and problems for them. Theory of Realism and Laos Lao People’s Democratic Republic has been a communist and socialist oriented nation since the 1970s. Being a weak, isolated, and landlocked state, it has been forced to create policies and strategies based upon the friendship and protection from powerful states. During the 1970s and 1980s, the country was willing to adopt a militant anti Western posture with the assistance of the USSR and Vietnam. With Vietnam it adopted a special relationship under which technical, economic, military, and political assistance were provided to the nation. The country also imposed a harsh Soviet style system of collective farms, lack of private property, and government control of the modes of production. The collapse of the Soviet bloc and weakness of Vietnam led to the radical reorientation of the country. This is line with the theory of Realism which states that the relations between states will be governed by the relative strength of their military and economic assets (Bull, 96). Laos being a weak and poor country was dependent upon the protection of Vietnam and USSR. With the collapse of the Soviet bloc, it has been able to adopt better relations with its neighbors and Western countries. This is also another aspect of the theory of Realism which proposes that the international order is an ever changing arena where nation states have to be pragmatic (Bull, 99). Laos has been stripping away its old economic ideas by introducing privatization, liberalization, and free trade. It has also been enjoying better relations with Thailand because that it is the main supply route for its exports and imports. Political Realism and Relative Weakness of Laos The political landscape of the world is regulated and governed by the powerful and dominant nations (Forde, 112). No entity like the United Nations can act as deterrents to prevent powerful nations from executing their policies and strategies. A small and weak state like Laos is forced to associate itself with powerful regional states and international super powers in order to survive. It has been subordinate to set its policies and strategies according to the requirements of world agencies and world powers. The economic reforms introduced by the government in the 1990s were based upon seeking foreign loans and concessions from multilateral agencies. These loans comprise the main source of revenue for the country. Similarly in order to attract foreign investment, the country has also been opening its markets. Laos and China did not enjoy good and cordial relations in the late 1970s because of the formers special relationship with Vietnam. Both Vietnam and China had fought a series of border conflicts in the late 1970s which had further heightened and exacerbated tensions between both countries. However currently, China is a leading investor and trade partner of Laos. Chinese companies have invested heavily in the agriculture, industrial, and infrastructure of the nation. This shows that Laos has been forced to change its policies depending upon the political nature and structure of the time period. The theory of Realism proposes that each nation must utilize and develop its resources in order to survive (Forde, 109). Weaker nations are unable to mount serious opposition to the policies of powerful states because of their weakness in material resources. Improving the Status of Laos Laos can improve its status if it implements wide ranging economic reforms similar to Chinese and Vietnamese economic reforms. The archaic and obsolete communist system is still rampant in the country. This acts as a barrier to the development of the country. Similarly the development of infrastructure combined with opening of economic markets would allow the country to become prosperous. This would also allow the country to achieve a status of independence and remove its isolation. With powerful states like China and US, it should pursue independent and pragmatic policies that would allow the country to maintain its independence. Currently it is dependent on Thailand for the export and import of its goods. Laos should develop alternative and feasible routes for its exports and imports as this would allow itself to remove its dependency on Thailand. Realism, Lao’s Policies, and International Attention Powerful regional and global powers seek to impose their own ideas and protect their vital interests during their interaction with smaller nations like Laos. As a landlocked and small nation, Laos since its history has been dominated by the regional powers. The country has maintained good relations with some neighbors in order to deter hostile and predatory states. It has pursued pragmatic and prudent policies that have allowed it to survive major problems. It has been found to undertake the willing reforms that would allow the leading party to retain political control while preventing any rebellions or insurgencies against it. This is line with the theory of Realism that proposes that nation states will continue to formulate strategies and tactics for survival based upon their strength and resources (Forde, 121). Conclusion Political Realism is a major theory which has been used to understand and define the nature of international relations. The theory proposes that the international world order is governed by the strength and power of nations. No entity can act as a barrier to prevent powerful states from dominating the world. This anarchic characteristic of the political structure means that military and economic interests surpass ideology, ethics, or values as the guiding principles for the strategy of nations. Every nation seeks to create policies which are pragmatic according to the conditions of the global political forum. The acquisition of military and economic resources is the desire for global powers as they seek to dominate and regulate the world. Laos is a weak, isolated, and landlocked state that has been forced to adapt and adjust its policies according to the political conditions. The political ideology of the country is socialism which has long been abandoned in the economic and social sphere because of pragmatism and the collapse of the Soviet bloc. It has now adopted friendly relations with regional powers and global powers. Countries like Thailand and China are the leading trade and investment partners of the nation. The United States has also provided economic and political assistance to the country. The country can improve its standing and position inside the international system if it adopts bold and comprehensive economic and political reforms. This would allow it to retain a degree of independence and autonomy inside the anarchic political world order. Works Cited: Booth, K. and S. Smith, eds. 1995. International Relations Theory Today. University Park PA: Pennsylvania State University Press Bull, H. 1995. The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics. New York NY: Columbia University Press Forde, Steven “International Realism and the Science of Politics: Thucydides, Machiavelli, and Neorealism:,” International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 39, No. 2 (June 2002) Hiebert, Murray. "Socialist Transformation in Laos," Current History, 79, No. 461, December 1980, 175-79, 194-95 Hey, Jeanne A. K. Small States in World Politics . New York: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008. Svensson, Thommy . The Quest for Balance in a Changing Laos . New York: NIAS Press, 1995. Read More