Economy for Independence: A Reappraisal on Economy of Resistance of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the Period 1945–1954 - Статья

ECONOMY FOR INDEPENDENCE: A REAPPRAISAL ON ECONOMY OF RESISTANCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM IN THE PERIOD 1945-1954 Nguyen Manh Dung In Vietnamese history, the period between 1945 and 1954 is a crucial stage of time. This is the highest episode and final struggle against the French colonialism, making also the end of the First Indochina War. The August Revolution of 1945 in Vietnam was the world’s first revolution of national liberation successfully led by the working classes. Therefore, it contributed significantly to the liberation movements in the colonies, ushering in an era of independence and freedom for the oppressed peoples. In Southeast Asia, with the victory in quest for power in Vietnam, the first state of the peasant and worker was established1. The beginning and end of this period remains a subject of controversy among historians. Questions on the causes and factors leading to the triumphs of the August Revolution and the Dien Bien Phu have also attracted great attention of scholars both in Vietnam and abroad [60 years... 2005; President Ho Chi Minh... 2006; 55 Years... 2009; Tonnesson 1991; Marr 1995]. In their analysis, historians have tended to focus upon the political factors, such as the role of the Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the Viet Minh’s military strategies, and the supports of Communist China and the Soviet Union. Very few studies have discussed the economic dimension of the revolutionary government, i.e. the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) during the revolutionary period2. It is the purpose of this study to examine the nature and significance of the economy planned by the DRV’s government between 1945 and 1954. Undoubtedly, it was a war economy. But the question is how the DRV’s government operated the economy during the wartime and what was the significance of the war-oriented economic activities in relation with the national struggle for independence. Attention will also be given to the transitional process of economy from the colonial time to post-independence. This paper therefore seeks to draw general picture on the economic activities of the DRV’s Government, then once confirms the nature of the economy for independence which is the greatest goal of the resistance war against the French colonization. And within the framework of the article, this writing focuses on the economy in the North of Vietnam. Vietnam: the days after Independence On 2 September 1945, at Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi) President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Declaration of Independence3, officially founding the DRV. The statement confirms the country regained the independence from the Japanese fascists “The truth is that we [Vietnamese people] have wrested our independence from the Japanese and not from the French”, although “for more than eighty years, the French imperialists, abusing the standard of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, have violated our Fatherland and oppressed our fellow-citizens. They have acted contrary to the ideals of humanity and justice”. Significantly, the new government claimed definitely and implemented consistently the guideline “Vietnam has the right to be a free and independent country and in fact it is so already. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to mobilize all their physical and mental strength, to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard their independence and liberty”. Struggling to protect the newly attained independence would be the ultimate goal of the DRV’s government as well as of all Vietnamese people. Facing the new situation after independence with the return of French forces to the South and then the North, on 3 March 1946, the Central Standing Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party issued an instruction providing that “The problem is not to hit or do not want to do so. The problem is to have both feat [Vietnam and France] on the ground” [Complete Party Documents, Vol. 8, 2000, 43-44]. Being well aware of the unavoidable coming of war, on 12 December 1946, the Party further published a booklet, which contained detailed instructions for action in case of war. The book brought forward some major issues i) on prolonged resistance war of our nation; ii) resistance program; iii) Resistance-steering organs, iv) commandments in warring-time; v) propaganda slogans [Complete Party Documents Vol. 8, 2000, 150-155]. In an interview for the Paris - Saigon newspaper on the following day, Ho Chi Minh stressed that “the Vietnamese people are willing to endure all, but not to be deprived of liberty...” [Ho Chi Minh, Vol. 4, 1995, 473]. On his Appeal for Nationwide Resistance of 19 December 1946, Ho Chi Minh called for “Long live independence for Vietnam - Long live victory resistance” [Complete Party Documents, Vol. 8, 2000, 481]. This marked the beginning of First Indochina War between the Vietnamese and returning French power. Two days later, on 21 December 1946, Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to “the Vietnames