Vietnam
Vietnam is a lower-middle income country exhibiting low performance across Representation, Rights and Rule of Law. It performs at the mid-range level in Participation, although its score is at the lower end of mid-range. Over the past five years, its performance has remained stable, with no notable fluctuations. The transition from a communist command economy to a market economy, termed “Doi Moi,” has transformed Vietnam from one of the poorest countries in the world to one that enjoys some of the fastest growth rates in Asia. The country has a diverse economy, with a buoyant manufacturing sector supplemented by tourism and a vibrant agriculture sector. Vietnam has also been lauded as a public health success story.
Vietnam’s political history includes episodes of colonial dominance by various great powers, including China, Japan, and France. In addition, the country has long had tense relations with China, especially in the era prior to Western and Japanese imperialism. Colonial attempts to dominate the country led to the eventual partition into North and South Vietnam in 1954. From 1954 to 1975, the Southeast Asian nation was mired in a war between the communist government of North Vietnam and the U.S.-allied government of South Vietnam. A victory by the North led to reunification in 1976; to this day, the country officially remains a socialist republic with no opposition parties. Continued disputes with China led to a short but bloody war in 1979. Relations with China were not normalized until 1991 but tension remains. As a result, Vietnam has been increasingly pivoting towards the U.S. in recent years.
Vietnam has a poor human rights record and censorship is pervasive. Activists who organize for increased rights and freedoms are frequently detained or jailed. Given the country’s rapid industrialization, Vietnam is also facing significant environmental and pollution-related issues, and prominent environmental campaigners have been suppressed by the government. Gender inequality is pervasive and is noted throughout society, including in education, business, and politics. To reduce the drag this creates on the economy, the government has launched the National Strategy on Gender Equality with the primary goal of boosting women’s entrepreneurship. Ethnic minorities comprise roughly 14 per cent of the population and continue to face discrimination and restrictions on their freedom of religion. LGBTQIA+ issues are also a major subject of debate in the country, and Vietnamese activists have recently won some reforms on this front. Currently, the Vietnamese government remains largely focused on economic development, with a goal of making Vietnam a high-income economy country by 2045.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch the potential impacts of the government’s focus on corruption. The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has recently undertaken a large-scale anti-graft campaign. Indeed, the campaign has ensnared numerous high-ranking officials and led to two presidential resignations within the span of 15 months.. These changes indicate the possibility of further openings, although none that menace the central role of the CPV.
Last Updated: June 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
April 2024
Vietnam’s escalating anti-corruption campaign raises concerns of instability
On 26 April, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue resigned over unspecified ‘violations and shortcomings’ amidst a corruption investigation involving a real estate firm. This follows the arrest of Pham Thai Ha, the Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly four days earlier. Vietnam’s long-running anti-corruption campaign has intensified since 2022, ensnaring hundreds of high-ranking officials. Then-President Vo Van Thuong abruptly resigned in March, the second presidential resignation within 15 months. As a result, two of the four highest political offices in Vietnam are now vacant, alongside five of the 18 seats in the Communist Party Politburo. The anti-graft drive has also implicated private citizens; earlier in the month, a court sentenced property tycoon Truong My Lan to death in a USD 44 billion fraud case – a rare verdict for a white-collar crime. Political analysts have expressed concern that recent developments indicate growing political instability in the country.
Source: International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Vietnam Economic Times, Al Jazeera
March 2024
Concerns raised over secret directive to curb fundamental rights
On 1 March, a secret order known as “Directive 24” was obtained by rights watchdog, the 88 Project, allegedly revealing that the Communist Party of Vietnam issued a sweeping direction on 13 July 2023 seeking to protect “national security in the context of comprehensive and deep international integration.” Rights advocates note that the nine-order directive includes concerning provisions which urge officials to increase media censorship, prevent civil society groups from getting involved in legislation and policymaking, ban the formation of trade unions, and crack down on foreign influence, among other things. According to Human Rights Watch, the “implementation of the directive is well underway,” with co-director of 88 Project arguing that the directive “heralds the start of an even harsher campaign against human rights activists and civil society groups.” The government issued a statement saying that Vietnam remains “committed to its international commitments, including those in trade and human rights.”
Sources: Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, NPR, BBC News, The 88 Project, VOA
July 2023
Court sentences 54 individuals in high profile corruption case
On 28 July, the Hanoi People's Court handed down lengthy prison sentences to 54 individuals, including high-ranking officials, senior diplomats, businesspeople and a former deputy foreign minister on corruption and bribery charges linked to repatriation flights carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those convicted were found guilty of "receiving, offering or being complicit in bribes, fraud and abusing positions of power." Four former officials at the ministries of foreign affairs, health and public security received life sentences. Political analysts consider the case to be one of the largest bribery cases in the country's history. The court's ruling marks a significant development within the country's extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has already resulted in the forced resignations of the state president and two deputy prime ministers in early 2023.
Sources: Reuters, Tuoi Tre News, British Broadcasting Corporation, Channel News Asia
June 2023
Continuing suppression of dissent
Vietnamese authorities arrested and detained prominent environmentalist and climate change campaigner Hoang Thi Minh Hong on 1 June for alleged tax evasion charges. Several staff members from founder Hong's non-governmental organization CHANGE were also detained but subsequently released. Human rights experts note Hong's arrest is part of a broader trend of targeting free speech and restricting civic space, with Hong's case marking the fifth prominent environmental defender arrested for tax evasion in the past two years. The United Nations states that at least 20 activists and human rights defenders have been arrested under wrongful charges in the past year, calling into question the independence of the judiciary. Human Rights Watch has furthermore criticized Vietnam's use of the vaguely worded and flawed tax used in targeting human rights activists, adding that most of the persecutions are politically motivated. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 150 political prisoners are being held in Vietnam for exercising free speech.
Sources: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Guardian, Mongabay, Human Rights Watch, The Diplomat
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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023
Basic Information
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Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
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