Vietnam: International Relations

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Table of Contents

Structural Impact of the World/International System
Impact of Geographic/Locational Characteristics
Impacts of natural resources
Impact of Demographic Characteristics
Impact of environmental resources: domestic and global
Cultural Constructs/ Perceptions
Paramount Goals and Guiding Principles
Belief Systems: Values, Attitudes, and Images
Works Cited

Structural Impact of the World/International System

The economic world systems are bipolar in nature, where the world is divided into two types of economic powers, the rich and the poor nations in the world. The economic power of a country, which drives its development and the related agendas, determines whether it is ranked as a developed or developing nation. United Nation classification of a country as a least developed or not, is based on the percentage of manufactured goods or the GDP. The least developed nations have manufactured goods accounting for 10% or less of their GDP. The latter experience low levels of physical quality of life, and life expectancy is below 45 years. The term “third world” was coined to refer to those countries which were neither inclined with the East, the Communist block, neither the West (Nato). The term has been applied to refer to poorer nations of the world. Vietnam occupies the 149^th position on the world ranking by the World Bank in terms of National Average Per Capita Income with a score of 2490 US dollars. The above calculation is by using the PPP method. However, the ranking does not include other countries of the world. In terms of National Average Per Capita Incomes using the Atlas method, the country occupies the 164^th position with a value of 480 U.S dollars. Being ranked as a Medium-Large country, Vietnam experienced growth of a trend of 6.2its GDP from 1980-2000 (est) and ranked the fifth in the region. In this region, and during the same period, China obtained the highest growth trend (10.1 (8.1)) while Ireland and Hong Kong both scoped the lowest ranking. Vietnam also had a per capita growth of 4.1% and ranked position 7 in the region. According to Virmani, China also scoped the first position in this ranking with 8.8 (6.8) %, while Malaysia scoped the last position with only a 3.5% score. In 2008, the country had a GDP of $84.98 billion and a per capita income of $1,024 during the same year.

The country’s business and investment climate was improved by these reforms. The country’s economic position has played a vital role in the generation of foreign policy that not only accommodates other countries to enhance trade relations between them but also aligns its orientation to regional economies. From 1990-1997, the country’s economy averaged at about 8% annual gross domestic product (GDP), becoming one of the fastest around the world. The GDP however slowed down to 6.2% in 2008 after experiencing an annual growth rate of 8% from 2004 to 2007.

Impact of Geographic/Locational Characteristics

The participation of children in education is promising in Vietnam. The “economy” has affected schooling and the populations. The government spent about 9.73 % of the total public expenditure on education. The “literacy levels” for the total population hit 94 % for the period from 2003-2008. The tertiary enrolment was 9.7% for the same period. Those enrolling for education at the tertiary levels were 797, 086, while enrolment at the secondary level was 62.5% according to the NationMaster. In 2006, the literacy levels for Vietnam reached 90%. The importance of demographics and study of the population has been discussed and explored. Income has given rise to “variation” of education and “higher-quality schooling” owing to other school-related expenditures apart from tuition fees. ^viThe “household” financial status has been found to influence the demand for education. The geographical difference for “knowledgeability” for children on different continents has been explored.

Impacts of natural resources

Compared to some other countries in the world or the region in which Vietnam is located, there are substantial agricultural activities going on. In 2008, the contribution of fisheries to the country’s GDP was about 29.8%, representing $21.99. Other agricultural activities apart from fishing included the cultivation of cotton, peanut, pork, sweet potato, among other crops. Therefore, these can be ranked as abundant resources. This puts Vietnam in a better position regarding avoidance of problems experienced by other countries which have the forest as scarce natural resources. Other natural resources that are found in Vietnam include iron, manganese, gold, silver, copper, and coal among others.

There are vast numbers of activities that are used to generate income for Vietnam. Services offered in the country represented a total of 38.10% of GDP in 2008, and these include tourism, telecommunications, hotel and restaurant, wholesale and retail, and repair of vehicles and personal goods. The country participated in exporting a variety of commodities, among them being rice (Vietnam was the second-largest exporter of this commodity in 2008), garments/textiles, and crude oil. The country was the largest exporter of pepper during the same year. Others included rubber, coffee, and wood products. The total export during the first 8 months of 2009 was $37.3 billion. Among the countries which formed the major export partners including Singapore, Australia, and China. The fact that Vietnam exported the aforementioned products means that they were either readily available, although such cannot be proved for their abundance. The principal imports for the country represent the products that were either not enough, or that the country needed them to solve pricing and trade problems. These include iron and steel, oil and gas, and machinery. It is clear that shortage for such commodities has shaped Vietnam’s relation with other countries even outside the block in which they are located. The countries which they traded with represent even the most dominant in the world in terms of economy, meaning that trade relations between Vietnam and these countries were improved either for the benefit of Vietnam, or for mutual benefit. Because Vietnam had previously no foreign policy advancing such notions, formulation of such a policy has been shaped by the prevailing shortage or abundance, to ensure that the country survived economic challenges and struggles. The Vietnam policy has played a key role in the “formulation” of the United States’ foreign policy. Cooperation with the United States has played an important role in the stimulating of the exports for Vietnam. It was expected that the ratio of the “working-age” population (of age 15-65) relative to the “non-working” population (of age less than 15 years and above 65 years) would reach a peak of 2.3 in 2015.

Impact of Demographic Characteristics

Vietnam had an infant mortality rate of 15/1000. The death rate for the country was 4.9/1000 while life expectancy stood at 72.2 years. The aforementioned figures were for the year 2008. There is more than one ethnic group in Vietnam. The population of Vietnam in 2009 was 85.79 million people and obtained a growth rate of 1.188% during the year 2007. The majority of the people who are Vietnamese control the political and economic affairs of the country. The predominance of the Vietnamese means that the foreign policy of the country is shaped by their views. Buddhist religion is the most “predominant”. Vietnam has different religion, but the dominant one-Buddhism-has a representation of about 50%, followed by Catholicism with about 8-10%. Other minor languages apart from the main Vietnamese include Chinese and French.

Census results indicate differences between the males and the females as relates to employment issues. Policy changes have been influenced by “structure of employment” by sex, industry and occupation, age, among other things. The number of women working in both rural and urban areas was less compared to men, as revealed by the 1999 census data, although there were more men who were employed than women. More women participated in employment in the rural areas (80%) as compared to urban areas. The employed population was largely affected by history of the war in Vietnam, with fewer people aged between 35-44 in 1989 participating in the total workforce due to wartime mortality (about 17%), as compared to those with the same age in 1999, and who contributed about a quarter to the working force. There are challenges faced by the government in fighting of diseases and illnesses across the country of Vietnam. This has made them come up with strategies and policies aimed at helping in funding of health of the poor. The constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam provides the people with basic rights of health protection. The population has funded healthcare sector through paying (partially) for the services during attendance, since 1989 when free services were abandoned through policy changes. There is participation of the private sector in healthcare, and provision of “health insurance” to finance healthcare. Despite promising statistics on reliance of “IUD” than other family planning methods, high rate of induced abortion, and high income per capita, there has been reported high comparable rates of “mortality” and “decreasing fertility”.

Impact of environmental resources: domestic and global

Environmental Problems in Vietnam and their Remedies

Vietnam has had various environmental issues that deserved attention to alleviate the possible dangers. These issues included irrational use of natural resources such as exploitation of water, fisheries, and mineral resources. In addition, there has been decrease of agricultural land and increased deforestation. The country has also experienced pollution and damage of environment resulting from the war. These environmental issues have not only affected Vietnam, but also the surrounding and the globe as a whole. Vietnam is a country that has been developing industrially and therefore has experienced environmental problems related to the industrial productivity. The contribution of the industries in Vietnam to global warming through emissions can be understood to be a global problem. In addition to the environmental problems emanating from the local scenery, Vietnam has also faced problems as a result of emissions and human activities from surrounding countries. These problems have called for immediate need for solution to enable the people to live comfortably.

The government of Vietnam has boosted responsibility in the raising of awareness on the problems of environmental degradation and how they can be evaded or solved. The National Program for Environment and Sustainable Development (NPESD) has had an interest in the conservation of the environment with assistance from international organization, both in action plans and the formulation of policies to alleviate environmental problems. However, the implementation of this program has been hampered by the “shortage of finances”, “adequate technology”, as well as lack of “human resources”. Environmental protection has been enforced through the Law on Environmental Protection (LEP) which came into force in 1994. Environmental degradation, pollution and incidents are covered through the Chapter II provisions. However, LEP lacks specificity in its framework and the implementation of the legislation. The government has also set up programs that are aimed at stopping and alleviating environmental degradation. In particular, investors and enterprises-both foreign and local-are supposed to submit the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). There are established councils known as the EIA Review/Appraisal Councils. The local authorities are also mandated by the government to check the adherence to the environmental regulation by the industries and enterprises, since they are required to receive from them reports of EIA. There have been a number of other efforts aimed at helping the government to implement the policy on environmental conservation. These include “environmental monitoring network”, “research centers”, and “environmental management systems”.

Governmental policies dealing with the environmental issues in Vietnam have focused on long-term and short-term impacts. There has been an interest in the developing of action plans aimed at meeting long-term needs while involving the various parties involved and interested in the environmental conservation. The position of industries and investors-both local and international-in the conservation of environment has not been ignored. This is justified in consideration of their contribution in environmental degradation and pollution in general. Vietnam controlled environmental degradation through foreign investor projects by ensuring that the investors follow certain guidelines concerning the type of projects that they invest in. the policy has ensured that cost effective methods are utilized in the solving environmental problems as well as involving the community. Participation o the community and the resource owners in the alleviation or avoidance of problems related to the environment have ensured program adaptability in the local scene. Although implementation of the national programs has been partly hampered by the presence of various authorities, the collaboration between the various authorities and organizations has been vital in the solving of environmental problems in the country. The establishment of the efficient policies and programs in the control of environmental degradation in Vietnam does not mean the lack of persistent problems. For example, it has already been mentioned in this section that the implementation of such programs has been hampered by contrasting directions emanating from various authorities involved. In addition, some critics have complained that some policies have only been “partially” implemented, and some not implemented at all.

Cultural Constructs/ Perceptions

Impact of History

History can be referred as the events that happened in the past. If something happens today tomorrow it will be termed history. World today got a lot of historical events. Events that happened in the past especially once that were of great impact are necessary to be remembered since, there happenings brings great impact in our lives today. Happening that occur in our day to day lives forms great part of our future academically, socially, economically, scientifically and in all scope they bring impact in our lives, which makes it important to remember them.Every country of the world has its own historical event.A country like Vietnam is among countries in the world that are known of their great historical happenings.

There are a number of events that has happened in Vietnam from ancient times to date. The major one being Vietnam War, that brought the greatest impact in Vietnam. The Vietnam War strike from 1945 to 1975.T his event appears as the mother of all historic events has ever happened in Vietnam. The Vietnams centuries of being dominated by imperials and colonial powers such as china and French are the major contributory of the Vietnam War. China was the first country to take control of Vietnam in ancient times and then French toke control in 1800s. French established the “French Indochina and in the early 1900s nationalist movements emerged in Vietnam demanding their freedom of self governance. French latter agreed to recognize Vietnam as a “democratic republic”.

Among the movements that were formed, the most powerful one was Democratic Republic of Vietnam under leadership of Ho chi Minh that succeeded in taking control over Vietnam in 1945.This is after 2^nd world war when Japan that had taken the dominion of it surrendered it to Ho and communism groups. French invaded it for the second time and Ho tried to in vain to look for support in USA. US supported French instead and the first Indochina war continual until 1954when the Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into two. The northern Vietnam was under given to Ho and the communist forces and the southern remained under French. The division was considered temporary and was to be reunited as soon as the elections were held in 1956.

The United States started a cold war against northern due to their communism. USA argued that there were likely hood of North Vietnam to influence the rest of as southern Asia leading to their fall. USA offered support to ant communism politicians who took control over southern Vietnam and declared it the republic of Vietnam. The elections that were set to be held in 1956 were thrown aside and Ngo Diem Dinh assumed powers. This is the regime that is known of being corrupt and oppressive. The regime faced great opposition that was triggered by Ho Chin Minh. Vietnam has had a history of resisting fighting “French colonialists” to advance freedom (Mtholyoke) under leaders like the Communist leader Nguyen Thanh.

It was after the by then US president J F Kennedy sent a military advisers to prepare southern Vietnam’s forces to prepare them for the war against communist leaders organizations. With US support Ho Chin Minh was over thrown and the US appointed their own leader Ngo Dinh Diem was later deposed and executed by ARVN coup in 1963.Sothen Vietnam was then left under leadership of Duong Van Minh who was a general of ARVN. The send of military advisers to Vietnam was triggered by the then much arising conflicts that had made even the USSR to send there supplies to the pathet Lao. This was a communist –led group of guerrilla insurgents fighting against the French in Vietnams neighboring country, Laos in 1960.This made the US policy makers to fear that the first Domino in Indochina was about to fall. According to sparkNotes, this part of Vietnam became very famous as a result of global cold war confrontation of these two superpowers.

In 1965 the United States president Lynoid Johnson sent the first us combat US combat to Vietnam to increase its military support following the coup that overthrown president Diem who was an American supported president. The northern Vietnamese military started invading the southern from early 1975 to July 2, 1979 when the northern ruling party DRV absolved the southern government to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. From 1978 the government of the reunified Vietnam exercised oppressive communism way of governance that way full of hostility.They forced people to adopt their style and made thousands of people to fly away to the neighboring countries as refuges.

Since this time to date, historical events have been thrilling all over the world associated with Vietnam and other countries that suffered similes problems Iraq and other Asian countries included. Several musicians in America have formed a great part in history by singing songs crying for peace.One of the songs that is today in history is “if you love ankle john bring them home”. This song was pleading to the government of USA to withdraw its forces from Vietnam. Many other songs and artistic work have been done to mobilize peace all over the world.

In the year 2009 the economy of Vietnam regained momentum. The (GDP) rose up at about a quarter reaching 5.2% with agriculture being the best contributor to the year’s economical growth. Contrary to this good agricultural record rice which is one of the agricultural major products in Vietnam had increased it production rate in that year than the prior year but recorded poor exchange rate. Rice is known of recording exports value fall of about 5.3% every year due to poor management. Other thugs that contributed to the economical good performance in that year were, the Governments economical stimulus packages worth VND17 trillion and the domestic purchase power which was quite high. In this same year the global prices of gold recorded a new price which resulted to an annual growth of 64.32% and the number of gold exchange centers increased from 7 to 17. This was quite high record as far as gold marked is concerned. At the same time the country encountered a great loss of around VND23 trillion, following damages that were caused by Typhoons Ketsana and Mirinae in the Central Region and Central Highlands in the year. Natural disasters like these had claimed a total of 453 lives in the country as recorded before November 10.

In this same year 2009s the Government expanded pilot bauxite project in lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces while the National Assembly approved construction of two nuclear power plants costing investment of VND200 trillion. These suits caused vexation in the public opinion.

Media

Media generally is known as ears and eyes of the mass. This is why it is known as mass media.It is a medium of passing different information’s about happenings in people’s lives and what is going on in the government of the people. Media connects people with the outside world making them informed. In most countries, people in power and the government fight to control media by making laws prohibiting media from covering some parts, while in other countries, the government exercise total control over the media by using it as its voice. Some radio, televisions, newspapers and all other forms of the media are condemned in most countries, as being biased, by giving the better part of the government while avoiding the bitter part of it. Claims have been raised for long time in most countries about the way the government misuse the media, making them give directly opposite of happening in the country in favor of the government.

Media in Vietnam is tightly under control of the government whereby they are used by the government to pass propaganda to the local people. They are known for preaching individual gospels full of puff.Political parties and the entire government takes the advantage of the media to sustain their names and powers. During the colonial era the first radio station was established by the French the mother colonizer of Vietnam in 1920s. The government started taking impact to them during the era of Ho Chi Minh where the transformation of the first vernacular stations was made. It was in September 2 1945 when he read independence declaration and this change in radio stations operations was felt. This was quite a positive impact since before then the local Vietnam people were not allowed to open or operate any station all being controlled by the then French colonial government.

However, the start of vernacular stations was just the beginning of another tyranny system that had great influence to the media where all radio stations were combined with the by then radio station “voice of Vietnam”. This station started its broadcast from Hanoi and became a propagandist of the Democratic republic of Vietnam after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam declaration.Television is also another form of media in Vietnam.Its a medium used in communication in the whole world and not only in Vietnam. This is transforming and receiving moving images plus sound.The national television of Vietnam it’s a government controlled media just like all other media in Vietnam. This television is connected to the rest of, the world via satellite.

We can argue that Vietnam news papers are widely spread since they are written in different languages making them international means of communication. Generally in Vietnam media coverage is very wide especially the once that can be accessible thro the internet. Internet is the key factor that has helped the wide coverage of Vietnam’s media. Taking note that Vietnam has a great population of about 86million people and most of them being literates is one of the factors that have brought about different languages in media publications of the country. Some of there newspapers are written in French, English and Spanish. The wide spend of Vietnam media is growing at a high rate able to cover great part of it and abroad. For instance nowadays, VOV a great wide spread offering its broadcast on six different channels and in all waves. Actually the spend is quit rapid whereby in 1994 the VOA 1-6 was said to cover about 96% of Vietnam houses.VOV6 which is a short wave based stations was able to pass its broadcast in six different foreign languages.The world today has grown to quite a higher level as far as technology is concerned. The growth of technology has brought the internet way of communication which is doing well than other forms of media around the world. Internet can be termed as the heart of all other media types since all media stations today are depending with the internet to carry their operations efficiently. Moreover, internet is the most efficient and reliable data source.With daily update of the day to day global happenings that is done in the internet, people have found it the most reliable source of getting information. Interned is first in transmitting its data.An up date can be made in seconds and the people in need can access it as soon as they want.

Also internet is the most accurate and proper means of communication. Phones and other gadgets of communication that are used today are all connected via internet. It’s like all things done today as far as communication is concerned rely on the internet. It is the backbone of information today. Business communications has increased in the world due to many human activities like exporting and importing industrial product of different countries of the world. This and many other activities like this need much advertising. Internet is the only efficient means of communicating issues like these.

It has also been discovered that use of internet in distance learning is possible not like before when people had to travel far from there homes in search of knowledge. Nowadays learners are able to enroll in schools abroad and efficiently learn through the net. People from different countries gat employments and work through the internet which has led to great job opportunities mostly to the people of developing countries where jobs are rarely available.

Ideology

Ideology can be described as a set of ideas that are adopted by a societal people to guide their way of carrying there live activities. In order for every community to successfully achieve there targeted goals it must have a set of ideologies in them. In Vietnam, the most prevailing ideologies are socialism and imperialism which has greatly contributed to all what has happened in Vietnam from ancient times to today. During the Vietnam War that cost the country a lot of trouble, communism or the so called socialism was the center of interest to rivals like USA. The United States of America objected highly the ideas of northern Vietnamese politicians whose aim was to introduce communism in there system of governance. The USA government feared that if the northern Vietnam was allowed to continual with their method of socialism, there was possibility of influencing the rest of southern Asian countries.

The propagandas that have been brought by communism in Vietnam have influenced many things including their road signs. They have placed the images of one of the most prolific historical giants, Ho Chi Minh, in every part of their country. Minh was the founder of communism system in Vietnam. Another form of ideology mostly adopted in Vietnam is that of Confucianism. Confucianism is shown by the large number of non-religious people in Vietnam. This type of culture is mostly interpreted as philosophical then religion. The aging power that is today in Vietnam government is a reflector of Confucianism. This is because it emphasizes on seniority in governance, making it the most attractive way of conduct in governmental system.

Confucianism has affected most of Vietnamese system of respect in there society. For instance, in Vietnam most of people prefer being abiding to their own principles than attaching any religious principal in their daily practices. Children in Vietnam communities are subordinates of their parents. They intend to stay at home until marriage which is a style rarely adopted in other countries of the world. In conclusion, these ideologies adopted by Vietnam communities are the contributories of their conducts; inter person’s deals and foreign deals affairs.

Economic growth for Vietnam could be enhanced by policies or initiatives that will boost the adult population of “working age” relative to the dependent population. Rural areas have rising cost of schooling, while “gender differentials” do not score higher as does differentials in educational attainment. Compared to young people in the urban areas, those in rural areas are likely to “leave” school earlier. Younger adolescents aged 13-17 were likely to progress “further” in school than older ones. Apart from school tuition, other related expenditures caused variation in access to “higher-quality schooling” and education by income. Young men were found to have no “memory” of the American war and were not interested in the hardships and dedication by their elders.

According to the United Nations, about one-third of Vietnam’s population is between 10-24 years of age. Although some studies have been conclusive on the woman and population fertility, there has been reported “bias” for women studies. The “behavior, expectations, young people’s experiences” have been altered by the social and economic transformations in recent years has indicated that although there has been a policy that has contributed to the improvement of the contact between some countries and the west, the same has given rise to increase of behavioral issues and problems such as premarital pregnancy.

As shown by Goodkind (34) and Henshaw (35), traditionally valued morals have been challenged by the upcoming upheavals. These challenge the beliefs held for so long about families. Data is indicative of the decline of “school enrollment” especially among girls, as a result of economic changes consequences. Abnormal behaviors and morals in Vietnam include common practice or “norm” for sex before marriage. There has been found abuse of drugs among “certain segments” of population.

Paramount Goals and Guiding Principles

The Vietnam Foreign Policy

Since independence, Vietnam has fostered the policy of freedom. “Communism” has however had a long lasting influence on the country’s foreign policy. The foreign policy determines a country’s relation with other countries. A government, depending on its principles, formulates policies in a certain direction to influence its relations with other countries in advance to its national agendas and policies. Countries do not just formulate foreign policies, but there are guiding principles that help or govern the formulation of these policies. A country sometimes defines its national policies and establishes relations with countries in relation to the attitudes it forms about a given nation, according to the cultures and political inclination, as well as economic status and inclinations of both countries. According to the Embassy of Vietnam and Mofa, diplomacy has played an important goal in the formulation of the country’s national policy, as well as ensured national identity, independence, and sovereignty. Development of the country’s economy in the past has been described as representing one of the most “dramatic turn-around” in economic history.

Vietnam’s relationship with noncommunist states through an appropriate policy was as a result of the effects of the problems of the Eastern Bloc on the country’s foreign policy. The economic liberation of Vietnam in 1988 also played a key role in the formulation of a policy that would see the enhancement of Vietnam with the noncommunist states. China’s relation with Vietnam was reinforced by the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. This indicates that Vietnam’s ability to relate with other countries has been affected by its relation with some other countries, as well as the political inclination of the country in relation to regional issues. Vietnam shifted its foreign policy to one favoring international investors into the country, from one laying too much emphasis on solidarity with the Communist bloc. International relations with Japan, China, Russia, the U.S.A. and the West in general were improved in 1990s. The relationship with the United States was improved even after the latter lifted its trade embargo against Vietnam. Vietnam has engaged in international and regional integration through joining such associations as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995.

The Vietnam’s foreign policy has hampered the country’s development, such as its unwillingness to bow to demands of foreign investors and their governments following the economic meltdown which swept Asia in the 1990s. The rejection of such reforms proposed by such lenders as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hampered development for lacking support from leaders of the country.

Other foreign policy issues have focused on the development of trade between Vietnam and other countries. The country has aligned its position in trade with other countries by actions such as lowering trade tariffs to encourage trade. In 2002, a deal between Vietnam and United States, termed as the United States-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, would see the improvement of the trade between the two countries. This also provided Vietnam with an opportunity for entry to the World Trade Organization. The desire to acquire economic prosperity has in a way influenced the foreign policy of Vietnam and affected the freedom of the nation in advancing its core principles guiding its relations with other countries. The impacts of the economic challenges have left the most influential principles guiding Vietnam in the formulation of its foreign policy, shaken, because the country has been forced to accommodate noncommunist countries.

As focused in the United States Trade Representative, the historic political inclinations of Vietnam have influenced its foreign policy as can be indicated by events related to the Cold War era. These events include the relations between Cuba and Vietnam, the inclination of Vietnam against the United States in support of Iraq in 2003, and the Vietnam’s relations with India. The impact of the communist relations, therefore have played an important role in the formulation of the Vietnam’s foreign policy. In part, the desire to have national independence in the guiding of the foreign policy has been indicated by the desire of the nation to establish policies that are free from influence from such nations as the United States of America in such issues as fighting Iraq, even after many years of collaboration. According to VNA, Vietnam has also had interests to advance peace through an appropriate foreign policy e.g. by supporting the UN Security Council ideologies.

Belief Systems: Values, Attitudes, and Images

Values

Values and cultures of Vietnam have been greatly influenced by the Confucian ethics and beliefs. The respect of these traditions rarely affect the foreign policies in the recent past or present, as it used to, in the past. Probably, the desire to maintain the beliefs and cultures of the people has shaped the way the political infrastructure is, and in turn influenced the policy formation. For instance, the Confucian beliefs have influenced the way the country related to others which are non-Confucian. There are many traditions and values that have nothing to do directly with the foreign policy of the country, but will say a lot in terms of the way the people think and act. This in turn affects the foreign policy of the country because it affects the way human understands the national issues and the way personal issues relate to the national issues. Man is brought within the society, and this society may encourage or discourage-and indeed teach-what values are good and bad. A society that embraces values that are good, trains the members to be good. For example, ideologies of a nation in respect to unity are greatly influenced by the leaders who have been trained and brought up in a society. For example, several values taught within the society in Vietnam can in this respect influence the way leaders view their subjects as well as other nations, and in turn influence the formulation of policies. These include respect for peace and “family” unity among others. Values that influence the policies of the country directly include those that advance peace, influential values requiring respect for Confucian beliefs and cultures. The value system of Vietnam is guided by four tenets. These are respect for others, love for learning, earning a good name, and allegiance to the family. Integration of the country and its unity has therefore been a priority in formulation of policies defining relations with other countries.

Attitudes

The attitude of Vietnam towards other countries has shaped the law relating to the working and investment of foreign countries in Vietnam. For example, there are strict regulations embedded in the constitution of Vietnam on the protection of domestic industries. These regulations dictate on foreign investment and provide that work permits must be provided as well as companies must sign legal contracts for their projects, so as to be allowed to select management staff and technicians from other countries. For a long time, these regulations have limited investment in the country. Being a socialist country that has had negative inclination against other countries, there are forces that have caused drastic moves. These include the economic challenges that have shaped the attitudes of the country towards the United States and other countries. Vietnam did not have good terms with the likes of the United States because of past grudges, and this has been demonstrated by the fighting against the United States in support of Vietnam. However, the country has changed its policies to make its friendship with United States more favorable. More importantly, the country’s foreign policy has shifted from one being influenced by enmity to one based on mutual benefiting between partners. Such is the example of the signing of the Australia-VietNam Comprehensive Partnership in September 2009.

The increasing role of Vietnam’s parliament in formulation of the policy guiding the country has contributed to more positive attitude towards other states because the decisions being made are more considerate and diverse in benefit. Because formation of friendship with other countries in these days is based on mutual benefiting, other countries are slowly being accommodated into the country’s agenda. Therefore, Vietnam only finds it important to change to accommodate the needs and demands of other countries.

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The Vietnam belief that forms the basics for the formulation of their policies has drastically changed in history. For example, it could not be expected that the country can hold any meeting or talks with the United States even about the “political-military aspects”, but dialogue has been even extended to this area, in addition to economic areas. Alan Guttmacher Institute has posited that believe in family unity system has been eroded by the various incoming daily dynamic structures (34). There have arisen new trends in the way men and women behave, with reported increase in premarital sex as “norm” behavior, for example. According to Bélanger and Khuat (20) and Bruce and Barbara (156), the dominant culture has been challenged by modern systems coming up. According to Desai, the prevailing economic situations have also influenced the way human behave, the health and the rate of population growth (280). There has been reported that young people have reduced interest in the hearing of elders tales on “hardship and dedication” which has reduced the number of people holding to their traditional beliefs. According to Edmonds and Carrie, other trends that have been reported, and that are present elsewhere, includes child labor (54). Young people’s experiences, expectations, and behavior have been “altered” by social and economic transformations in recent years.

Works Cited

Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI). Into a New World: Young Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Lives, New York: AGI. Anh, Nguyê˜n Quô´c, Nguyê˜n M˜y Huong, Daniel Weitraub, and Meredith Caplan, 1999.

Behrman, Jere and James, Knowles. “Household income and child schooling in Vietnam,” The World Bank Economic Review, 1999, 13 (2): 211–256. 32

Bélanger, Danièle and Khuat, Hong. “Young single women using abortion in Hanoi, Viet Nam,” Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 1998,13 (2): 3–26.

Birdsall, Nancy and Steven, Sinding. “How and why population matters: New findings, new issues,” in Nancy Birdsall, Allen C. Kelley, and Steven W. Sinding (eds.), Population Matters: Demographic Change, Economic Growth, and Poverty in the Developing World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, Pp. 3.

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