Politics In War - The Bases Of Political Community In South Vietnam

"Internal war does not create politics or processes of government. This is likely to be the most tragic aspect of the war in Vietnam. When the guns are silent, the political analyst will find essentially the same political forces and governmental institutions intact as when the conflict began." __Politics in War__ deals mainly with the years 1967-1970 but bears on the problems South Vietnam faces now that American forces are no longer active. The book provides an understanding of Vietnamese politics, the forces underlying it, and the bases upon which political community and a future political settlement might be achieved. Mr. Goodman has based his analysis on first-hand research. He conducted over 300 interviews with Vietnamese political leaders and government officials. His field work in South Vietnam encompassed three years and he presents materials from such sources as South Vietnam's National Assembly, its Ministry of Interior, and the U.S. Department of State's Vietnam Working Group. __Politics in War__ presents the untold story of how the Vietnamese saw the period of deepest American involvement. Goodman supplies background material on the Thieu government, its motivations, and its response to the people. Students of politics who have been concerned about what the Vietnam involvement meant to America can now better assess what the last decade has meant to the Vietnamese.

"Internal war does not create politics or processes of government. This is likely to be the most tragic aspect of the war in Vietnam. When the guns are silent, the political analyst will find essentially the same political forces and governmental institutions intact as when the conflict began."

Politics in War deals mainly with the years 1967-1970 but bears on the problems South Vietnam faces now that American forces are no longer active. The book provides an understanding of Vietnamese politics, the forces underlying it, and the bases upon which political community and a future political settlement might be achieved.

Mr. Goodman has based his analysis on first-hand research. He conducted over 300 interviews with Vietnamese political leaders and government officials. His field work in South Vietnam encompassed three years and he presents materials from such sources as South Vietnam's National Assembly, its Ministry of Interior, and the U.S. Department of State's Vietnam Working Group.

Politics in War presents the untold story of how the Vietnamese saw the period of deepest American involvement. Goodman supplies background material on the Thieu government, its motivations, and its response to the people.

Students of politics who have been concerned about what the Vietnam involvement meant to America can now better assess what the last decade has meant to the Vietnamese.

Preface Contents Tables Chapter 1. Political Community and Political Order in South Vietnam Chapter 2. Government versus Politics: Traditional Political Institutions and the Absence of Political Community in Vietnam Chapter 3. Elections and Political Participation in South Vietnam Chapter 4. Representation as Participation: Bases for Conflict and Accommodation Chapter 5. Government under the Second Republic: Consolidation versus the Creation of Political Power Chapter 6. The Executive versus the Legislature: Political Competition and Institutional Imperatives Chapter 7. Legislative Blocs as Political Participation: Doctrines of Political Organization and Competition in Transition Chapter 8. Creating Public Demands: Patterns of Deputy-Constituency Relations Chapter 9. Constituency Service and the Creation of National Interests Chapter 10. The Bases of Political Community in South Vietnam Notes Index