Thayer Vietnam Political System and Current Issues 2009

8/14/2019 Thayer Vietnam Political System and Current Issues 2009

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et am r e

Professor Carlyle Thayer Professor Carlyle Thayer 1313 thth Delegation of Young Political LeadersDelegation of Young Political Leaders

Hotel Realm, Canberra Hotel Realm, Canberra December 3, 2009December 3, 2009


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lin f Pr n i nlin f Pr n i n

Background urren o ca ruc ure an

Government Comparison of Vietnamese and

Australian Political S stems

Current Issues


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B k r nB k r n

13 th most populous-

45 th GDP (ppp) 2008

60 th largest GDP(nominal) 2008High economicgrowth rates (7%)

Success in povertyreduction


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Still a Developing CountryOrganisation Survey Ranking

Heritage Foundation/ The Wall

Street Journal Index of EconomicFreedom 2009 145 out of179

Report, 2009

183

Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom 166 out of

Transparency International Corruption PerceptionsIndex 2009

120 out of180

United Nations DevelopmentProgramme

Human DevelopmentIndex 2009

116 out of182

World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness 75 out ofReport 2009/2010 133


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GovernmentGovernment

Leninist one-party

ua ro e e es

Gradual political liberalisation since 1992No pluralism, multi-parties or opposition

Market econom with socialist orientations

Soft-authoritarian


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Administrative Divisions

59 rovinces

5 municipalities

ano

HaiphongDa Nang

Ho Chi Minh City

Can Tho


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MonoMono--organisational Socialismorganisational Socialism

Vietnam Communist PartVietnam Communist Part

The StateThe State ArmedForcesArmedForces

MassOrganisations

MassOrganisations


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Party StructureParty Structure

CongressCongress CentralCentral1,176

delegates1,176

delegatesCommittee

160 membersCommittee

160 members

15 members

15 members

General

General


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Nng c Mnh

10 th National CongressApril 2006


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n r l mmin r l mmi

160 full and 21 alternate members, required tomeet in lenar session twice a ear. Threeplenums held in 2008 and 2009.


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i n m P r lii n m P r li Secretary

Prime Minister State President

Chair NationalAssembl

PermanentSecretar

StandingCommittee

PartySecretariat


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ThTh

Nguy n Minh Tri t

Nguy n Th Doan


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AssemblyAssembly --

QuQu c Hc Hii

N u n Ph Tr n -Chair

500 deputies from 64administrative units

Bi-annual sessions

Standing Committee


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Proceedings broadcast on radio and television,voting results made public, full-time deputies,

, ,Prime Ministers nominees rejected, confidencevote,


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PM NguyenTan Dung

u yMinisters

Nguyen

Sinh Hung

Pham Gia

Khiem

Truong

Vinh Trong

Nguyen

Thien Nhan

Hoang

Trung Hai


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Comparison of Vietnamese andComparison of Vietnamese andu yu y

No separation of power Separation of power

One-party-

Multi-party

Unicameral legislature

ompu sory vo ng

Bicameral legislaturePolitically active armedforces Politically neutral armed

forces

Mass organisationsstate-controlled Civic organisations are

inde endentMedia state-controlled

Media independent


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rr n Irr n Ia. Recovery from Global Financial Crisis

b. Bauxite Mining

c. Catholic Church-State Land Disputes

d. Buddhism Mainstream and Zen

e. Political Dissent

f. Internet Censorship

th .


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l l Fin n i l ri il l Fin n i l ri i

Inflationary crisis 23% (2008) 7% (2009). -

6.2% (2008) 5.5% (2009) 6.5% (2010)

Stimulus Package US$8 billion

,welfare, poverty reduction and political


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Bauxite MininControversy


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AntiAnti--Bauxite CoalitionBauxite Coalition

EnvironmentalistsEnvironmentalists Some media & bloggersSome media & bloggers Social scientistsSocial scientists

Retired state &Retired state & Catholic andCatholic andc en s sc en s s military officers

military officers

Buddhist leaders

Buddhist leaders

EconomistsEconomists Local residentsLocal residents Some NADeputiesSome NADeputies


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Bauxite Minin ControversBauxite Minin ControversV Nguyn Gip

(May 7) National Assembly (May 27)

Deputy Nguy n MinhThuy t, Son La province,

I hope you pay attention to bauxite

mining in the Central Highlands


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Catholic Land IssuesCatholic Land Issues u y nc en a am

Ta Church, Quang Binhprovince - 11 arrested

ege po ce ruta ty

Gangs assault Catholics

rc estrate campa gn ystate media

26 July & 2 August

at o cs stage massprotests in 3 provinces

8 August 178 parishes inVinh diocese hold protests


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TamTam TaTa ProtestsProtests


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B hi mB hi m

Unified Buddhist Church Zen Buddhism


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PoliticalDissent

Hai Phong 16 Aug 08 (above) and Hai

Hanoi 28 Jul 08


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H i h n ix n Tri lH i h n ix n Tri l


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Internet CensorshiInternet CensorshiHuy c, blogged under name Osin, firedfrom Si Gn Ti p Th newspaper

Bi Thanh Hi u blo ed as N i Bun Gi(Wind Trader) arrested in August

,partition, critical of Chinese territorial claims

Nguy n Ng c Nh Qu nh, blogged under name M Nm (Mother Mushroom)


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Relations with China An IssueRelations with China An Issue


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Towards the 11Towards the 11 thth Con ress Januar 2011Con ress Januar 2011


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n D iln D [email protected]

Mobile: 0437 376 429

Thayer Consultancy

. .

Jamison Centre, ACT 2614

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Thayer Vietnam Political System and Current Issues 2009