thayer vietnam's political system and current issues 2008

8/14/2019 Thayer Vietnam's Political System and Current Issues 2008

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Viet Nam Brief


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Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Background

Current Political Structure and

GovernmentComparison of Vietnamese and

Australian Political SystemsCurrent Issues


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BackgroundBackground 13th most populous

country - 86m (2008)

57th largest GDP(nominal)

168th GDP (ppp)

High economicgrowth rates

Success in povertyreduction


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Human GeographyHuman Geography

Kinh 86%

Tay 1.9%

Thai 1.75

Muong 1.55

Khmer 1.55

Hoa 1.15

Nung 1%

Others 4.1%


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Organisation Survey Ranking

Heritage Foundation/The Wall

Street Journal Index of EconomicFreedom 2008 135 out of157

The Economist Worldwide Quality-of-lifeIndex, 2005

61 out of111

Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press FreedomIndex 2007

162 out of169

Transparency International Corruption PerceptionsIndex 2008

121 out of180

United Nations DevelopmentProgramme

Human DevelopmentIndex 2007/08

105 out of177

World Economic Forum Global CompetitivenessReport 2008/09

70 out of131

Still a Developing Country


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Political Structure andPolitical Structure andGovernmentGovernment

Leninist one-party

Mono-organisational socialism

Dual role elites

Gradual political liberalisation since 1992

No pluralism, multi-parties or opposition

Market economy with socialist orientations

Soft-authoritarian


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Administrative Divisions

59 provinces

5 municipalities

Hanoi

HaiphongDa Nang

Ho Chi Minh City

Can Tho


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MonoMono--organisationalorganisational SocialismSocialism


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Party StructureParty Structure


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Viet Nam Communist PartyViet Nam Communist Party

10th National Congress

April 2006

Nng c Mnh


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Central CommitteeCentral Committee

160 full and 21 alternate members, required tomeet in plenary session twice a year. Threeplenums held in 2008.


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The StateThe StatePresident

Nguyen Minh Triet

Vice President

Nguyen Thi Doan


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NationalNationalAssemblyAssembly -- QuQucc

HHii

Nguyen Phu Trong - Chair

500 deputies from 64administrative units

Bi-annual sessions

National AssemblyStanding Committee


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Military Bloc in National AssemblyMilitary Bloc in National Assembly


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No Longer a Rubber StampNo Longer a Rubber Stamp

Proceedings broadcast on radio and television,voting results made public, full-time deputies,Ministers grilled, legislation amended, PrimeMinisters nominee rejected, confidence vote,


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CabinetCabinet -- ChChnh Phnh Ph(literally(literally governmentgovernment))

From collective leadership to ministerial responsibility


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Vietnam Fatherland FrontVietnam Fatherland FrontMMt Trt Trn Tn TQuQucc

Vietnam Communist PartyPeoples Armed Forces

General Confederation ofLabourVietnam Farmers UnionVietnam Youth FederationVietnam Womens UnionVietnam Veterans Union


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Youth Union LeadersYouth Union Leaders

Tat Thanh Cang Vo Van Thuong


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Comparison of Vietnamese andComparison of Vietnamese and

Australian Political SystemsAustralian Political Systems No separation of power

One-party

Voting non-compulsory

Unicameral legislature

Politically active armedforces

Mass organisationsstate-controlled

Media state-controlled

Separation of power

Multi-party

Compulsory voting

Bicameral legislature

Politically neutral

armed forces

Civic organisations areindependent

Media independent


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Current IssuesCurrent Issuesa. Inflation

b. Labour Strikes

c. The Media and Corruption

d. Human Rights & Religious Freedom

e. Catholic Church-State Land Disputes

f. Foreign Policy: South China Sea

g. Impact of Global Economic Crisis


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Vietnam: Inflation 2007Vietnam: Inflation 2007--20082008


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LabourLabourStrikes in Viet NamStrikes in Viet Nam

Source: Kerkvliet 2008b and Vietnam Investment Review, August 25, 2008


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Reasons for StrikesReasons for Strikes

Inflation

Increased productivityquotas without pay

Overtime withoutcompensation

Denial of annual leave

Delay in wages

Inadequate mealallowance/poor meals

Lack of allowances (sickand maternity leave)

Long shifts

Enforced overtime

No contracts

Health and safety

Inadequate annual bonus

Social insurance unpaid


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The Media and CorruptionThe Media and CorruptionPress break

PMU 18 scandalTransport

Minister resignsDeputy Ministerand head of

PMU 18arrestedPress campaign

called off 2006Deputy Ministerreleased and

exoneratedPress resumereporting on

scandalReportersarrested


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The Media and CorruptionThe Media and CorruptionJournalists fromThanh Nien

andTuoi Treand theirpolice informants

arrested, tried andconvicted of abuseof power

In August, press credentials revoked for 5 journalistsand editors from 4 newspapers and press credentialswithdrawn from 2 other reporters.


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Human RightsHuman Rights

Pro-Democracy Activists Bloc 8406


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Religious FreedomReligious Freedom

Unified Buddhist Church

of Viet Nam

Degar ethnic minority

House Church Christians


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Catholic ChurchCatholic Church--State Land DisputesState Land Disputes

Former Vatican Embassy Thai Ha Parish


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Peaceful Prayer Vigils Mass Rallies of Solidarity


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Police Intervention Organised Gangs


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New Public Park Another Public Park


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Foreign Policy: South China SeaForeign Policy: South China Sea


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Foreign Policy: South China SeaForeign Policy: South China Sea

2007 Student Protests Dieu Cay - Blogger


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Impact of Global Economic CrisisImpact of Global Economic Crisis


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Contact DetailsContact Details [email protected]

Mobile: 0437 376 429

Thayer Consultancy

P.O. Box 435

Jamison Centre, ACT 2614

thayer vietnam's political system and current issues 2008

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