Flying Blind

Vietnam's Decision to join ASEAN

Nguyen Vu Tung

• Publisher: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9789814881968
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: International Relations
• Index: Politics & International Relations

This book discusses Vietnam's relations with ASEAN in the period from the early 1970s to mid-1990s. It focuses on the evolution of Hanoi's view on ASEAN, from denial to integration in the organization. Further, it reveals the reasons behind Hanoi's decision to join ASEAN in 1995 in the context of the transformation of the overall Vietnam's foreign policy when the Cold War ended. Relaxation of the Cold War conditions allowed Hanoi to improve understanding of ASEAN that resulted in better Vietnam-ASEAN relations and subsequent Vietnam's membership in ASEAN. The author has had access to documents and interviewees that few other researchers can rival. And the richness of the empirical evidence of this book makes a significant contribution to the studies of Vietnam foreign relations in specific and Southeast Asian international relations in general.

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Paris Agreement and Vietnam-ASEAN Relations in the Early 1970s
• 3. 1978 to 1985: Coexistence between Two Opposing Groups
• 4. Joining ASEAN: Political and Strategic Factors
• 5. Jumping on a Moving Train: Vietnam Joins ASEAN
• 6. ASEAN Membership and Vietnam’s Shifting National Identity
• 7. Conclusion
• References
• Index
• About the Author