Abstract

Vietnam: Rethinking the State offers an exciting and up-to-date look at the politics of this fascinating country as it seeks to make the transition from war-torn economic backwater to a dynamic and modern society. The book argues for a move away from the commonly associated idea of 'reform', arguing for a deeper understanding of the concept and questioning the idea of state-retreat. The result is a path-breaking book which gets beneath the surface of Vietnam's politics in a way which few outsiders otherwise could.
Martin Gainsborough is a recognised international expert on Vietnam and its politics. He is a director of the Bristol-Mekong Project, and consults widely on aspects of Vietnam's politics and business, notably for the United Nations Development Programme, the UK's Department for International Development, and the World Bank. He teaches on development studies, Vietnamese and Asian politics, and state theory. He is author of Changing Political Economy of Vietnam (2003) and editor of On the Borders of State Power (2009).
'Clearly written and based upon extensive field work, his discussion of the value of theory amplifies a vivid focus upon the major issues Vietnam faces as the relatively easy development seen since the emergence of the market economy in 1989-91 morphs into her troubled transition to ‘middle income’ status and demands for higher quality economic growth.' Adam Fforde, University of Melbourne and Victoria University 'Vietnam: Rethinking the State is written in an engaging style and is wonderfully structured and organised. Stop, read and proceed!' Carlyle A. Thayer, author of War By Other Means: National Liberation and Revolution in Vietnam 'By challenging several concepts commonly used by observers of contemporary Vietnam - reform, the state, the centrality of national policy, and the rule of law - Martin Gainsborough has produced a lively, provocative analysis of political life in the country. His book is a must for specialists and non-specialists alike.' Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet, The Australian National University 'Vietnam: Rethinking the State provides a highly sophisticated yet always accessible and eminently readable discussion and analysis of key issues in the Vietnamese reform process that will be of keen interest to students, teachers, government officials, journalists, the business community and others.' Mark Sidel, International Society for Third Sector Research 'Gainsborough's Vietnam is a valuable source of conceptual and empirical information for Vietnam specialists, practitioners of governance reform, and comparative political theorists.' Thaveeporn Vasavakul, Southeast Asian Studies Specialist 'This book is an indispensable tool to make sense of the enormous transformations experienced by Vietnam over the last two decades.' Martin Rama, World Bank for Vietnam