Revision

The paper I chose to revise was my research paper; the research paper was titled "The Most Bizarre Khmer Rouge State Building Strategies." Although this paper contained strong writing overall, I decided it was within my best interest to revise the paper because I enjoy informational writing and wanted to further strengthen my ability. While revising, I focused primarily on connecting to the thesis; I felt there were parts where the paper was "loose on some ends" and tying parts such as the body paragraphs, to my paper would help the reader make sense of the writing.

                       The Most Effective Khmer Rouge State Building Strategies

In 1975-1979 the Khmer Rouge was responsible for the Cambodian Genocide, infamously nicknamed “The Killing Fields[RK1] , which was responsible for the lives of millions of their own people. The Khmer Rouge had economic goals similar” to Mao Zedong’s peasant driven industrialization. What were the most effective state-building strategies attempted by the Khmer Rouge against Cambodian inhabitants to fulfill the Khmer Rouge’s peasant-driven economy, communist, egalitarian state? 

Pol Pot, infamous Khmer Rouge prime minister was considered responsible for the infamous “Killing Fields[RK2] . Pol Pot, originally named Saloth Sar, attended school in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Later, he attended a Catholic school in Paris where[RK3]  his radical ideas were formed; after, Pol Pot then led the Khmer Rouge from

1975-1979 after coming into power by defeating the pro-American right-wing Lon Nol Republican government (“Pol Pot[RK4] ”).  The Khmer Rouge, after[RK5]  taking control, renamed Cambodia to the Democratic Kampuchea

(“Khmer Rouge”). [RK6] The Khmer Rouge tried to achieve a classless communist state with a rural agrarian economy driven by peasants (Fry). The Khmer Rouge believed the only way to achieve this  by[RK7]  stripping the rights and responsibilities of many Cambodians. Bizzare[RK8]  [RK9] [RK10] state-building strategies were used to achieve Pol Pot’s impossible objective for his idealistic nation. a[RK11]  state-building strategy was the destruction of old Cambodian society and economy to apply Pol Pot’s philosophies to Cambodia. Another was torturing perceived “traitors” of Cambodia; thousands of innocent Cambodians were thrown into Tuol Sleng, a notorious death camp). Lastly, evacuation and relocation of Cambodian city-dwellers to the countryside were a method carried out by the Democratic Kampuchea to establish the peasant drive economy [RK12] 

Khmer Rouge political members ordered the destruction of old Cambodian society, culture, traditions, and economy.  Khmer Rouge members forcibly stripped the rights and responsibilities away from Cambodians (Un). Chief Deputy, Nuon Chea, and Khmer Rouge Prime Minister, Pol Pot, ideally wanted no social classes between Cambodian inhabitants (“Brother No. 2”). The Khmer Rouge prohibited family, money, and religion for Cambodians across Cambodia (“Cambodia Falls to Khmer Rouge”). Education was disallowed, and use of medication was banned under the Khmer Rouge (“Brother No. 2”). The Khmer Rouge also closed schools and factories, turning some schools into torture centers (“Killing Fields”). The Khmer Rouge wanted no money, family, or any education because Pol Pot wanted total self-sufficiency over the state (“Pol Pot”). Nuon Chea and Pol Pot ordered the destruction of the Cambodian society for they believed the “old imperialist regime was corrupt” (“Brother No.2”).

The Khmer Rouge wanted to put Cambodia “towards a socialist prosperity” by applying progressive policies (“Brother No. 2”).  The Khmer Rouge’s idealistic method to put Cambodia towards a socialist prosperity resulted in the destruction[RK13]  of their economy.

For the many Cambodians who were not willing to change, adapt, or agree with the policies carried out by the Democratic Kampuchea were perceived “enemies of the state”

(“Brother No.2”). The “enemies of the state” were seen as individualists and were “smashed” (“Brother No.2”). The Khmer Rouge used the word [RK14] “smashing” which meant to smash someone’s selfish nature and desires. Democratic Kampuchea followers believed “smashing” would destroy someone’s ability to gain individual power. The Khmer Rouge believed elements like selfish nature, individualism, or gain for individual power over others did not belong to the state (“Brother No. 2”). “Smashing” was the oppression of individuals due to opposing views, this view by the Khmer Rouge led to a dysfunctional society under Pol Pot. “Smashing” individuals who had opposing views were thrown[RK15]  into death camps such as Tuol Sleng.

After the destruction of Cambodian society, the Khmer Rouge would force Pol Pot’s ideals onto Cambodian inhabitants (Fry). The process of taking over a state and reestablishing new policies by force was known as Year Zero (“Killing Fields”). Pol Pot ruled a government in secrecy, most Cambodians weren’t familiar with Pol Pot’s existence during the genocide; Pol Pot believed a secret government was the most powerful form of rule (Un). Pol Pot’s secrecy allowed him to fully force policies against Cambodians[RK16] .

The Khmer Rouge assassinated and executed nearly all skilled workers and intellectuals as the intellectuals had the potential to start a rebellion against the Khmer Rouge (“Khmer Rouge”). The Khmer Rouge executed doctors, engineers, and political figures (“Khmer Rouge”). The Khmer Rouge also went as far as to murder Cambodians who wore glasses; anyone who showed any slight sign of intelligence was immediately accused of being an intellectual (“Brother No.2”). Intellectuals were executed as they would oppose Pol Pot’s ideal peasant driven economy (“Khmer Rouge”). The act of killing thousands of intellectuals perfectly displays anti-intellectualism and was a pivotal action under the chief ideologist, Pol Pot.

Intellectuals were immediately thrown into Tuol Sleng, as they were perceived as

“traitors” or “enemies of the state.” Infamous torture camp such as Tuol Sleng was also known as S-21. Tuol Sleng (S-21) was a former secondary school turned torture camp that used bizarre forms of torture (Fry). Torture ranged from physical to psychological[RK17]   torture[RK18] , and there were approximately 14 survivors of the camp of the 14,000 killed (“Cambodian Torture Survivor”). Vann Nath, Tuol Sleng prisoner survivor, described scenes and torture methods used by Khmer

Rouge: “I lost my dignity … they even fed me animals food ... “I couldn’t think of anything other than being hungry, or thirsty, I even thought human flesh was a good meal” (qt. in

“Cambodian Torture Survivor”). Intellectuals, or “enemies of the state” were slain to make Cambodia more egalitarian.

Relocation of Cambodians was an attempt by Pol Pot and other Democratic Kampuchea political members to establish a self-sufficient agricultural system (Un). The Khmer Rouge overthrew cities and city dwellers were forcibly moved to the countryside to establish peasant driven agriculture (Fry). Cambodians were moved to the countryside without any preparation and had little food (“Khmer Rouge”). The Khmer Rouge ensured the relocation was going to be voluntary, but the relocation was implemented by force (Fry). Surviving peasants able to reach the countryside were put into labor camps stripped of rights and forced to do unpaid work

(‘Khmer Rouge”). The relocation of Cambodian city-dwellers caused the ruination of over a million Cambodians (“Cambodia Falls to Khmer Rouge”). Cambodians forced to relocate to the countryside was arguably the most destructive. The method to potentially drive a peasant driven economy failed and many deaths were a result from forced marching[RK19] .

A notable city that was emptied of approximately two million Cambodians was Phnom

Penh. The Khmer Rouge successfully overthrew Cambodia’s Capital, Phnom Penh, on April 17th, 1975 (“Phnom Penh”). The Khmer Rouge blocked the Mekong River and prevented food and fuel from entering the city (“Phnom Penh”). Phnom Penh and other cities in Cambodia were being captured due to the quickly growing military power (“Khmer Rouge”). Lots of Cambodian children were drafted into the army and militia; as some were told to kill “traitors” of the state (“Khmer Rouge”). In three years, the Khmer Rouge was able to expand their military size from three-thousand soldiers to thirty thousand soldiers (“Khmer Rouge”). The Khmer Rouge regime’s growing military was the reason how those Cambodians were forced to the countryside.

To assure the absolute relocation of Cambodian civilians The Khmer Rouge used scare tactics to ensure the evacuation of the city (Fry). The Khmer Rouge claimed the United States was planning to bomb the capital city of Cambodia (Fry). This claim would further persuade Cambodians to leave the cities for the countryside. The relocation of Cambodian city dwellers to the countryside would, unfortunately, result in mass starvation of countless Cambodians (Fry). 

Under Khmer Rouge rule from 1975-1979 devastating events such as torturing “traitors” of the state, evacuation, and relocation of Cambodian cities to the countryside, and destruction of old Cambodian society, traditions, and culture were the result of state building strategies from a failed revolution. Although there was Vietnamese intervention in 1978 to end the Khmer Rouge’s carnage, the devastating amount of deaths under the reign of the Khmer Rouge outweighs intervention from Vietnam (Fry). The horrors of what was a secondary school turned torture center still leave psychological[RK20]    scars on families and individuals. Pol Pot’s ideal communist utopia had destroyed Cambodia’s economy and executed many professional workers.

                                          

 Works Cited

“Brother No. 2.” Enemies of the People, 24 Nov. 2009.

             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKHGxu7vd-g

"Cambodia Falls to the Khmer Rouge, 1975." Historic World Events, Gale, 2012. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2359070250/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=6192d739.

Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.

"Cambodia torture survivor testifies." Aljazeera.net, 29 June 2009. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A202585992/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=8fc86939. Accessed

13 Jan. 2017.

Fry, Gerald W. "Pol Pot and the Prosecution of the Khmer Rouge Leadership in Cambodia."

History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide, edited by Sonia G. Benson, et al., vol. 3, Gale, 2002, pp. 1-14. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3410600092/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=ccb57fe7.

Accessed 12 Dec. 2016

Khmer Rouge.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, Columbia University Press, Apr. 2016, pp. 1–1, Literary Reference Center search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=39016003&site=eds-live.

"Killing Fields." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity,

Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 265-266. World History in

Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3045301254/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=2b4c3c71.

Accessed 23 Jan. 2017.

"Phnom Penh." Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War, edited by Stanley I. Kutler, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1996. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2336200404/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=3284d3e1.

Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.

"Pol Pot." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia

                (2016): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.

  

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=f62efcd0-1269-495a-b806-

d740e70fbfd3%40sessionmgr104&hid=121&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#A

N=PO107400&db=funk

"Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge Create the Killing Fields: 1975–1979." Global Events: Milestone

Events Throughout History, edited by Jennifer Stock, vol. 2: Asia and Oceania, Gale,

2014. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/OPOXMM737626951/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=9ff5f2a3. Accessed 24 Jan. 2017.Select History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3411687250/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=3ea6e018.

Accessed 9 Feb. 2017.

Un, Kheang. "Cambodia." Governments of the World: A Global Guide to Citizens' Rights and

Responsibilities, edited by C. Neal Tate, vol. 1, Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, pp.

133-139. World History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3447400049/WHIC?u=lap17ehs&xid=66c63355.

Accessed 13 Dec.

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 [RK1]Commas and periods always go inside quotation marks.

 [RK2]Repeats.

 [RK3]Correct to “where.”

 [RK4]Big step – I decided to add how he came into the position of power.

 [RK5]Renaming Cambodia.

 [RK6]Conflicted with previous statement.

 [RK7]Grammatical fix. Add “by” instead of “was.”

 [RK8]Use of word “bizarre” properly insinuates the methods Pol Pot used were strange.

 [RK9]Statement works against me.

 [RK10]State-building strategies were not “effective”

 [RK11]Fixed comma splice.

 [RK12]No citations in thesis, they’re my ideas.

 [RK13]My discussion connected to thesis

 [RK14]Unnecessary placement.

 [RK15]Connection to thesis.

 [RK16]Connection to thesis.

 [RK17]Spelling fix.

 [RK18]Comma helps prevent misreading.

 [RK19]Connection to thesis.

 [RK20]Spelling fix.