The Rise and Demise of Democratic Kampuchea by Craig C Etcheson

Author:Craig C Etcheson [Etcheson, Craig C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ethnic Studies, American, Asian American Studies, Social Science, Political Science, World, Asian, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9781000305197
Google: tgaiDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-07-11T13:30:54+00:00

7

Consolidation and Society Building (1975–1978)

Bleating and babbling 1 fell on his neck with a scream.

Wave upon wave of demented avengers

March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news? The dogs are dead!

You better stay home and do as you're told.

Get out of the road if you want to grow old.

—Roger Waters, from "Sheep"1

For a revolutionary movement, the most severe test comes not during battle to capture the seat of national power, but rather with the moment of victory. Although military strategy tends to exert an overwhelming force during war, often overpowering even the political objectives it ostensibly serves, with victory the military aspects of a revolution must be displaced by social and political concerns if the revolution is to make good on its promise to provide a better life for "the people."

Yet, this imperative is made more difficult to satisfy by the perception that at the moment of victory, at the inception of the revolutionary regime, the newly born order is most vulnerable. Counterrevolutionary elements in the defeated regime and society must be dealt with, neutralized. Perhaps more importantly, the revolutionary movement itself must be secured against threats from within; in this process, a dominant coalition or faction emerges. Most importantly, perhaps, the revolution must be secured against external threats. These concerns form the substance of this chapter.

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