Introduction to Vietnam: Land, People, Culture - Lecture 2: The State, Civil Society and Ethnic minority - Lam Thi Thu Suu

Lecture 2The State, Civil Society and Ethnic minority Lam Thi Thu SuuCentre for Social Research and Development (CSRD)Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the StateComprehensive leadershipThe political oppositions are not accepted by CPV.CPV has 3,5 million members.CPV leads the country by its policies, and nominating its members to the leading positionsWho are the CPV members and where are they?Legislative body: National AssemblyN. A is recognized by the Constitution of Vietnam as the “highest organ of state power” and the “highest-level representative body of the people”.N.A function+ draw up, adopt and amend the constitution+ make and amend laws, + to legislate state plans & budgets. NA appoints the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of Supreme People’s Court & Supreme People’s Procuracy.N.A in fact exists as a legislative arm of CPV. It converts Political Bureau resolutions into laws and decrees and mobilizes popular support for them. 90% of its 493 re in N.A are CPV members. Structure: Standing Committee, & other committees.Executive body: GovernmentGovernment is the executive organ of the N.A. It carries out the political, economic, cultural, social , national defense, security mandates.Gov leaders are elected by N.A and headed by Prime Minister. Government is accountable to the NA and makes its reports to the NADiscussion Leadership and DecisionPosition, power and relation Local government Centralized democracyAny problem with state structure? What is Civil Society Organisations (CSO) ? Mass organization - Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) defined as “part of the political system in Vietnam”. They include: - Vietnam Fatherland Front - Labor Union - Women’s Union - Farmers Association - Veteran Association - Communist Youth LeagueThese organizations are organized by CPV, aims at mobilizing the people to implement the CPV policies, and therefore they may not very well represent the mass’s interests.Career association – Shared interest Artists’ Association Doctors’ Association Architects’ Assocation Photographers’ Association Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Mass organizations State-sponsored mass organizations, Socio-political organizations founded by the Communist Party of Vietnam after 1975, as an extended arm of the Party in order to reach and mobilize the masses to participate in and support the Party’s policies.Conflict of interest ???VEPR’s study on VFF : spending of VFF as a burden ($2.42 billion) and less strictly controlled by the Party and the government.Civil Society INGOs & VNGO NGO NetworksBlogger Social GroupsCSO faces in health, environment, social justice and mediaCentre for Social Research and Development (CSRD)Locally managed and staffed NGOPractical response to support poor and vulnerable people in Vietnam and surrounding countries to address the issues Climate change and water related issue, industrial development Rapid social changeGender inequality.Network – Coalition and partners Vietnam Rivers Network (VRN), Advocacy coalitionsLocal NGOsInternational Partners: NCA, Rosa Luxemburge, IUCN, ICCO,Oxfam Bothends, IVM, NPA, Irish AidGov. organisations, mass organisations at all levels.Local pilot actionBIOGASSolar panelSaving energy stoveCompost making Garden on stilt Pig cage Knowledge is from communityPeople monitoring the impactsPage 19NetworkingDialogueLegal Aid with legal toolsPeople talks inside the roomPage 21People raise concern in publicPage 22Linking and learning Page 23Advocating Social Groups and Social MediaEthnic minority and development Hmong, Yao, Tay, Nung, ThaiKa-tu, Bru-Van Kieu, Ta-OiKmer, Bana, Xo dang, Co-ho, Hre, Monong, Xtieng, Jarai, E-de,Khmer, Chinese, Hani, La Hu, Phu la, Lo-lo Ethnic Minority as highlandersLowlandersHmongDaoTày- NùngLove Market!!!! Vân kiều Singing for loveKmerVietnam’s Ethnic PoliciesPrinciples : Equality, Solidarity and Mutual support (Constitution, CPV’s resolutions, presidental decree, PM’s decision) Programs : Comprehensive Development (currently more than 40 programs) Poverty Alleviation Economic Development Infrastructure Education Water & sanitation Housing Family planning Attitude on Shifting cultivation: Backward, primitiveDebates on the State’s ethnic policies?Debate 1: Assimilation to minorities (Keyes 2002); Civilizing the primitive (Salemink 2000);Debate 2: State development schemes aim to improve the human condition (Scott 1998).Debate 3: Most of ethnic minorities in highlands are at the low stage of development and it is therefore necessary to help them catch up with the lowlanders and raise living standards to ensure equality among ethnic groups (CPV) Lowland – UplandSedentarisation scheme for shifting cultivatorsNew economic zones and organized migration from lowlands to uplandsBig impactDiscussionWhy and Impact of the two program?Ethnic minority in economic transition ( Land, Forest, Market driven,, ?)Social & Political question???