World politics and state building of Cambodia by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1953-1970

Abstract

This study of world politics and state-building of Cambodia by King Norodom Sihanouk from 1953-1970 explains a new form of world politics after World War II which was followed by the Cold War and its influence on state-building of Cambodia. The Cold War brought a competition of two political spheres â namely, the free world led by the United States of America and the communist camp led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the Peopleâ s Republic of China. After Cambodia gained independence from France, King Norodom Sihanouk had to build his state by using his political style to deal with both Cambodiaâ s domestic politics and world politics. Both political and economic developments are important to state-building. Sihanouk attempted at state-building of Cambodia by adopting a neutrality policy in world politics. The following are main findings of this study:When the Cold War came to Southeast Asia, Cambodia became a buffer between the Free World and the communist camp. Sihanouk hoped that the adoption of neutrality would prevent Cambodia from foreign intervention, which usually came in the form of foreign aid, among others. Sihanouk had a flexible political style which was a combination of an authoritarian and a democrat. In addition, he attempted to balance the power of the Free World and the communism. The influence of world politics on Cambodiaâ s domestic affairs made its decisive impact when Sihanouk was toppled by the coup in 1970 which transformed the country from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. The end of Sihanoukâ s rule marked the failure of his effort at state-building in Cambodia.