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| Lao People's Democratic Republic ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ | |
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 Flag
 Emblem
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.svg) | |
| Capital and largest city | Vientiane |
| Government | Marxist-Leninist Kaysone Phomvihane Thought Socialist state |
• President | Thongloun Sisoulith |
• Vice President | Bounthong Chitmany |
• Prime Minister and General Secretary | Phankham Viphavanh |
| History | |
• Establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2 December 1975 |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 7,749,595 |
Laos, officially, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is a modern-day socialist country, established in Southeast Asia after having achieved independence through its liberation movement led by Kaysone Phomvihane (a figure analogous to Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh).[1]
The Laotian constitution states that the LPRP "is a people’s democratic state" defending "the interests of the multi-ethnic people of all social strata with the workers, farmers and intelligentsia as key components."[2]
The Lao People's Democratic Republic is one of only five socialist states in the world today (alongside Vietnam, Cuba, People's Korea and China). The Lao PDR adheres to Marxism–Leninism and Kaysone Phomvihane Thought as its guiding ideology.
History
Early history
Tiao Fangum united Laos in 1353 to form the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao. In 1536, King Photisalat defeated invading armies from Thailand. King Sayasetha defeated invading Burmese forces in 1563 and 1569.
In the 18th century, Laos split apart, and Thai feudal lords occupied it. Anouvong began an uprising in 1827.[3]
French colonization
The French annexed Laos in 1893 after a war against the Rattanakosin Kingdom in modern-day Thailand. In 1898, Laos was incorporated into French Indochina. Pho Cadouad led a rebellion in central Laos in 1901. The spiritual leaders Ong Keo and Ong Kommandam united Hmong people and and southern hill tribes in the Holy Man's Rebellion against the colonizers from 1901 to 1937.
On 9 March 1945, fascist Japan annexed French Indochina. After the Second World War, the Laotian monarchy began to support the independence movement against the French.[4] Laos declared independence from France on 12 October 1945. [3]
Revolution and civil war
See main article: Laotian Civil War
France recolonized Laos in 1949 with the help of the USA and UK. Souphanouvong founded the Pathet Lao in 1950 as the successor of anti-French nationalist groups.[5]
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), led by Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong, waged a war of liberation against the Kingdom of Laos and its allies, including the United States. The three forces in the Laotian Civil War were the monarchists led by Boun Oum, the liberals led by Souvanna Phouma, and the communist Pathet Lao.[4] In 1954, communist forces liberated the province of Phongsaly and most of Luang Prabang from French colonizers, forcing the French to give Laos independence under King Sisavang Vong.[5]
The CIA and State Department organized coups in Laos in 1958, 1959, and 1960.[6] During the civil war, the US military dropped 2.5 million tons of bombs on Laos between 1964 and 1973[7]—more than they dropped in all of World War II,[8] killing hundreds of thousands and turning a quarter of Laotians into refugees. 78 million unexploded bombs remained after the war, which still kill or injure 50 civilians every year.[9] The CIA also spent $500 million training Hmongs to fight on behalf of the monarchy.
The United States withdrew from Laos after the Viet Minh's victory in Vietnam in April 1975. In December 1975, the Pathet Lao took power and established a socialist republic in Laos, abolishing the monarchy.[4]
Independence
After liberation, Kaysone would dominate Laotian politics until his death in 1992.[10] Laos signed a 25-year friendship treaty with Vietnam in 1977.[4] The First Five-Year Plan began in 1981, but only achieved an economic growth rate of 5% per year. In 1986, Laos began the New Economic Mechanism, based on the New Economic Policy of the USSR.[7] By the end of the Second Five-Year Plan, rice production had doubled and sugar production had increased by 40%.[4]
Economy
The main investors in Laos's economy are China, Vietnam, and the DPRK. Mining takes up 7% of the Laotian economy and includes gold, silver, copper, tin, and potash mines. Industry takes up 28.6% of the economy. Hydroelectric power forms 30% of Laos's exports, and Laos is projected to be able to export 14.6 gigawatts of electricity to neighboring countries by 2025.[5]
Working conditions
Working hours are limited to 48 hours per week or eight hours per day. Paid sick leave, vacation time, and maternity leave are all provided.[4] Workers are well-represented in trade unions and workers' councils.[5]
Geography
Laos is a landlocked country and straddled between the tropical monsoon climate which prevails in the Southern half of the country and the temperate and mountainous climate of the North.
Governance
Efforts against malnutrition
In recent years, the issue of malnutrition is still present in Laos, though the government has made inroads in combating this problem with the help of UNICEF.[11] In addition, Laos has tackled such problems as inequality and poverty in its aim to shed its Least Developed Country Status by 2024. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and as The Laotian Times reports, "Lao PDR’s Human Development Index (HDI) value which is calculated based on the life expectancy, level of education and income per capita of a country’s people, has increased by over 50% since 1990."[12] From 1992 to 2008, the poverty rate decreased from 46% to 28%.[7] Laos is also the only ASEAN member to give up luxury state cars in a move by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to reclaim all Lao leaders' luxury vehicles.[13]
Politics
International solidarity
In 1977 Vietnam and Laos signed a 25-year treaty of friendship, and Vietnamese advisors provided much-needed expertise in government and economic policies. Vietnam and Laos fit together, as the common saying goes, “like lips and teeth.” Laos grew closer to Vietnam as its primary trade partner and only route to the sea. The Soviet Union provided most foreign aid to Laos and especially the Laotian armed forces.[4]
References
- ↑ Andre Barahamin (2017-11-05). "The hero of Laos: Kaysone Phomvihane"
- ↑ Constitution of Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDF)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kaysone Phomvihane. Revolution in Laos: Practice and Prospects: 'The Long Road to Victory' (pp. 11–15). [PDF]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Morgan Artyukhina (2017-09-22). "Mung Lao: A Portrait of The Lao People’s Democratic Republic" Liberation School. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Devin Cole (2022-02-10). "A revolutionary salute to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic" Workers World. Archived from the original on 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ↑ William Blum (2002). Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower: 'A Concise History of United States Global Interventions, 1945 to the Present' (p. 116). [PDF] Zed Books Ltd. ISBN 9781842772201 [LG]
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Laos: Building the foundations of socialism" (2018-05-02). Socialist Voice. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
- ↑ Ralph McGehee (1995-10-09). Bombing Laos Archived from the original. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ↑ Rebecca Wright (2016-09-06). "'My friends were afraid of me': What 80 million unexploded US bombs did to Laos" CNN. Retrieved 2021-31-21.
- ↑ Andrew Nette (1996-03-27). "LAOS: Kaysone – Big in Life, Bigger in Death"
- ↑ (October 19, 2018) https://laotiantimes.com/2018/10/19/nutrition-kids-unicef-xepon-laos/
- ↑ (October 30, 2018) Inequality, Disasters Risks to Development as Progress Pushed in Laos: UNDP
- ↑ Yap, Jasmina (February 23, 2017) "Laos Only ASEAN Member To Give Up Luxury State Cars"