Vietnam's political culture

In Vietnam the political culture has been defined by a number of factors. Out of these factors the communism is but the most previous. In numerous ways, Leninism-Marxism simply represents a new language. In this language it expressed old but consistent cultural inclinations and orientations. Vietnam’s political processes always incorporate from the national mythology and also from the pragmatic concerns engendered by current issues.

On Vietnamese political culture the major influences were of Chinese origin. Vietnam’s political establishments were formed by 1,000 years of Chinese rule i.e. 111 B.C. to A.D. 939. The ancient Chinese system was based on Confucianism. It established a political center surrounded by loyal subjects.

The Confucians emphasized on the importance of the village, endowing it with liberty. It clearly defined its relationship to the center. Those who dominated did so with the “mandate of heaven.” But they themselves were not considered divine. They only ruled by divine right and also by reason of their virtue. This virtue was evidenced in moral righteousness and compassionateness for the benefit of the people.

A monarch having these attributes received the unconditional commitment of his subjects. Selection of bureaucratic officials was not based on heredity. Rather it was completely based on the basis of civil service examinations. Government institutions were regarded simply as passages for the higher-ranking wisdom of the rulers.

The Vietnamese borrowed this political system. But to the other Southeast Asian neighbors, their rulers were described as gods. However, Vietnamese versions of the system dissented from those of the Chinese. In Vietnam, commitment to a monarch was depending upon his success in defending national territorial dominion.