The Tragedy Of Cambodian History: Politics, War and Revolution since 1945

by David P. Chandler

This history of Cambodia from World War II up to the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 focuses on the devastating revolution that convulsed the country under Pol Pot between 1975 and 1979, and the civil war that preceded it. David Chandler offers an analysis of the chaos during the 1970s and an understanding of events in the previous quartercentury. Drawing on vast quantities of primary material (including his own reports for the US embassy while a foreign service officer in Phnom Penh), on interviews, and on the scholarly literature, Chandler considers why the revolution happened, how it related to Cambodia's earlier history and to other events in southeast Asia, why it took the course it did, who was responsible for it, and to what extent its ideology drew on foreign rather than Cambodian elements.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Asia, Politics

408 pages, Paperback

First published December 25, 1991

About the author

David P. Chandler is an American historian and one of the foremost western scholars of Cambodia's modern history.

Reviews

[David Finger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chandler’s “The Tragedy of Cambodian History” is a powerful and detailed account of Cambodian history in the 20th century. However the bulk of the book ultimately deals with the years under Sihanouk as opposed to the years under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Even Lon Nol’s reign only gets a chapter and in many ways this book is more of a study in the mismanagement of Sihanouk than a focus on the darkest days of Cambodia’s history. This is not a knock on Chandler’s decision to focus on Sihanouk. Understanding how his mismanagement led to the emergence of Nol and subsequently the CPK is critical to understanding Cambodia and I think Chandler did a very good job in setting the stage of how it came to be. Sihanouk comes off as a man-child who could be easily offended by the smallest slights and quite possibly based his foreign policy on which country showered the most praise on him. At one point Chandler discusses how a warm reception in China coupled with a lavish meal by the Chinese government seemed to influence Sihanouk to lean towards China in foreign policy (must have been the Chinese government’s world famous chocolate cake, which I hear really is a beautiful thing). In the end a worthwhile read, although at times it is a bit dry, it is worth your time and it is highly informative.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a political history (focused on institutions, ideologies, foreign relations) than a simple recounting. However, probably because of the secrecy of the Khmer Rouge and limited documentary evidence, the book only spends two chapters on this brutal period of Cambodian history with much less detail than offered for the previous regimes. Good to read as an American to see how US policies contributed to the political upheaval and dysfunction, and includes divisions among US government actors.

[Alexander Wong mancong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book reviews -- The Tragedy of Cambodian History: Politics, War and Revolution Since 1945 by David P. Chandler


David Chandler’s masterpiece The Tragedy of Cambodian History pays close and thoughtful attention to the history of modern Cambodia. More importantly, Chandler provides great detail to complete his three themes, Prince Sihanouk, Lon Nol and Pol Pot. Through his examination and description, Chandler demonstrates how these three significant and influential leaders in post-war Cambodia contributed to the tragedy of Khmer history. The author explores nature and origins of Cambodian revolution, with offering thorough and comprehensive analysis of how internal and international factors help to shape politics in Cambodia from 1945-1979. There are two strengths in Chandler’s work, clear illustration of different Issarak branches and analysis Prince Sihanouk’s characteristic from a new, unconventional perspective.
The book is organized in a precise chronological manner. In each chapter, the author presents background stories and states new factors which are unique or significant in the specific timeframe. In the first two chapters, the author shows Khmer political contest and domestic uprising from the post-war French protectorate era to the early years of independence. In this period of time, various armed Issarak forces actively involved in and shaped the domestic political atmosphere, which increased its complexity.
With using an extensive interviews and citing a large number of sources from France, Britain, Thailand and the U.S., Chandler introduces each Issarak forces in detail. For example, he highlight five Issarak groups which were led by big figures such as Dap Chhuon, Sieu Heng, Long Bunruot (Nuon Chea), Achar Mean (Son Ngoc Minh) and Prince Chantaraingsey. Furthermore, he explains origins and feature of some groups. For the Dap Chhuon forces, Chandler states that
“Chhuon was thought to possess magical powers and had built up a following in the Kulen Mountains, north of Siem Reap…but the Axis deserters seem to have been throw in to make Chhuon sound much more formidable than he really was”.
Besides, he underlines close relations between external forces with those Issarak forces. For instance, “Guerrillas in these areas (provinces bordering Vietnam) were often commanded by Vietnamese, and Cambodian recruited into them often attened ICP political schools, where they were taught… virtues of cooperation with Vietnam”.
Although descriptions of Khmer Issarak are insightful and detail-orientated, there is an issue that needed to be noticed. Since Chandler works on his topic with employing historical approach, which aims at present Cambodia history in from 1945-1979 objectively, some explanations need to be addressed as sometimes readers may hard to find connections between different groups. For example, Dap Chhuon, leader of a join Khmer Issarak-Viet Minh guerrilla, by 1948 he became the head of Viet Minh-affiliated Khmer People’s Liberation Committee. After that, there is no further explanation about what the committee is, how it functions, if it has any connections between the Khmer Issarak Association, People’s Liberation Central Committee and the KPLC, or would it has any impact on the Democrats or on the royal family (Prince Sihanouk).
Except for that small issue, Chandler’s work indeed offers useful insight to discover what factors or who creates the tragedy of Cambodian history. At the very beginning, Chandler highly emphasizes Prince Sihanouk regime and his legacy to Cambodia, which more importantly to Pol Pot’s revolutionary administration. While although, Prince Sihanouk did not have intention to be a king or an autocratic leader of Khmer, his impulsiveness and arrogance weakens his power and eventually puts himself on exile.
Years before independence, a Franco-Cambodian commission was to draft a constitution, which originally was to stress the king’s absolute power. Prince Sihanouk proposed that the central assembly should be elected by “universal male suffrage”, as well as to protect freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and the establishment of political parties. Although the constitution finally allowed the Prince to exercise absolute power and he did use it (to dissolve the cabinet and later dissolve the Democratic Party), election in 1955 and tolerate opponents could be proved the Prince was not as dictatorial as popular believe.
Another brilliant argument from the author is Lon Nol and Pol Pot administrations are children of the Democratic Party and products of the Prince’s repression. With developing this logic and argument consistently, Chandler illustrates the foundation of the Khmer tragedy, consequence Prince Sihanouk’s impulsive actions and political tradition of authoritarianism.
In conclusion, Chandler’s work presents the modern history of Cambodia, from 1945 to 1979 in detail. The three main themes of the book outlines domestic political struggles during that period, which clearly draws a larger picture of politics in Cambodia. This book is a cornerstone of studying Cambodia and deserves praise from the academic community.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough but somewhat dry history of Cambodia from the end of WWII to the early 1990s. Very detailed in covering the political shifts of various parties and individuals in the 1950s and 1960s.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is extremely well researched and very detailed, until the section on the revolution, which the author speeds through. Very good book nonetheless

[Michael VanZandt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chandler, concise and analytical in his writing, is a quintessential academic. Highly learned and knowledgeable on a topic, he provides a broad map of Cambodian history while delivering the minutiae of the relationships within the political fabric of the country. Of course, in a country of 8 million is easier to provide an intimate portrayal. While this all seems very positive, there is not much of "shallow end of the pool." When you embark on this book, you need a foundation of Cambodian history. Chandler is making a bold case in these pages for a particular view of this history, and he seems unwilling to pander to the ignorant.

In these pages, it is clear that Chandler harbors ideological sympathies for the Khmer Rouge which at first seems unthinkable. While the country is mired in poor leadership through the post-WWII years, he is contrasting it with the youthful, idealistic ardor of young Cambodians studying in Paris. The narrative becomes bogged down with some trivialities at some points. The amount of information which he is delivering in itself can be overwhelming. Yet, his account of the Cambodian Communists is the most vital contribution, from their scholarly days of youth to their entrance to the halls of power.

In the penultimate chapter, on the Revolution, 1975-1979, Chandler spends such little time on the genocide, which is likely the topic which draws most people to the book. He skirts past atrocities with minimal details, while comparing them to the Jewish experience in World War II. There is little for the reader to grasp beyond the comparison. The unique nature of this genocide is lost and, in my opinion, under-appreciated.

The Khmer Rouge's revolution though idealistic and well-intentioned was clearly flawed at its core -- not ideologically maybe, but logistically. On this point, Chandler presents his strongest case. Chandler's entire life work is spent on this country. I am not well-read on his other works, and I'm sure collectively his work is comprehensive and commendable, but this book falls short of a complete history of the period. A good read, but I would only delve into it, if you absolutely must.

[Maria Strayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is limited on its discussion of the Khmer Rouge genocide, however this is not the purpose of the book. Chandler is truthfully setting out to trace the political history of the nation beginning in 1945 when the Japanese helped Sihanouk to power and culminating with the Pol Pot regime. He explains how both Sihanouk's foreign and internal policies of neutrality by playing groups against each other, helped stabilize and ensure peace for the country in the short term yet led to a tumultuous decade in the 1970s. Chandler does an excellent job tracing the rise and fall of Sangkum, the various political parties and opposition groups (including the Khmer Serei), foreign relations especially with the US, China and the Soviet Union, the CPK and even Pol Pot himself. He argues that it was these policies of the 1950s and 1960s along with the widening of the Vietnam War that led to the Khmer Rouge take over.

[Borin Jupiter]

It is good for peoples to know more about Cambodia