When development means political maturation: adolescents as miniature communists in post-war and pre-reform Vietnam, 1975–1986

Abstract

In this study, I documented the conceptualization and representation of adolescence in Vietnam between the end of the Vietnam War and before Vietnam adopted the Western market economy. Using historical archives, especially newspapers written for and by adolescents, I argued that during this period, the Vietnamese society conceptualized life course development as a process through which an individual gains political maturity, which means the learning and practicing of communist doctrines. As such, adolescence was viewed between 1975 and 1986 as a political stage that prepares youths to become mature communists. Adolescents, therefore, were portrayed as miniature communists with norms, attitudes and behaviors shaped by communist doctrines. Adolescence was not associated with problem behavior or sexual maturation.

Keywords:

• Vietnamese adolescents
• miniature communists
• life course development
• political maturity
• discourse

Notes

^1. Viet cong is the nickname used by the Western media to denote the communist army of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. They are in fact the army of the National Liberation Front, also called ‘Liberation Army’ (quan giai phong) for short.

^2. I collected the majority of the data in 2006. However, between 2006 and 2008, I also collected additional materials. The process of data collection and data analysis, in many ways, happen simultaneously.

^3. For example: A 10-year-old individual would be called ‘muoi tuoi’ (literally ‘age ten’); a 14-year-old would be called ‘muoi bon tuoi’ (‘age ten plus four’) and a 19-year-old would be called ‘muoi chin tuoi’ (age ten plus nine); however, there is no term to say ‘people in the ten-ish age’.

^4. It should be noted, however, that while the Article 1 of the Regulation considered thieu nien as covering the age range from 9 to 15, the majority of the members of Thieu nien League was between ages 10 and 15. The 9-year-old members were often exceptional nhi dong, who were admitted to the Thieu nien League early in order to reward their academic performance and extra curriculum activities. They were, however, still considered nhi dong or in the transition between nhi dong and thieu nien.

^5. Ho Chi Minh is considered the founding father (vi cha gia dan toc) of the modern Vietnam.

^6. Note that from 1981, Vietnam combined primary and secondary school into basic-education school (giao duc pho thong co so) (Ministry of Education, 1982, p. 40). However, in order to make it easier and consistent for my discussion, throughout the study, I will use the original classification of Vietnam education system in 1975 in which the grades were divided into primary school (truong cap 1), secondary school (truong cap 2), and high school (truong cap 3).

^7. Uncle Ho's Five Teachings: 1. Love your country, love your people. 2. Study well, work well. 3. Have good comradeship and discipline. 4. Keep good hygiene. 5. Be humble, honest, and brave.

^8. Social evils (te nan xa hoi) is understood in Vietnamese culture primarily as drug addiction, gambling, and prostitution, and some other reckless, anti-social, or immoral behaviors.