Vietnam’s Market Socialism and Civil Society Impasse?

ABSTRACT

Vietnam shift towards market-oriented policies since the 1980s has transformed its economy and society, leading to rapid economic growth and poverty reduction. However, this transformation has also created new challenges and dilemmas for Vietnam political system and civil society. This paper examines the relationship between Vietnam market socialism and civil society development. To fill the gap of the previous studies, by the qualitative case study method, the study argues that Vietnam market-oriented policies have facilitated economic growth and modernization, but have also weakened state-society relations, restricted political participation, and limited the development of civil society. The Vietnamese government sees civil society as a potential threat to its regime security, due to concerns about political instability, social unrest, and external interference. The paper suggests that civil society participation is a key to ensuring democratic reforms in Vietnam, and that further efforts are needed with the political commitment of VCP to strengthen civil society and promote political participation and social change in Vietnam.

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