On the domino theory, I believe Lee Kuan Yew attributed Singapore's ability to develop to US intervention in Vietnam. He believed the theory was sound not due to a fear of monolithic communism but rather due to the fragility of Southeast Asian states during the sixties. Given the Confrontation with Indonesia, the insurgency in Thailand, and SIngapore's recent divorce with Malaysia, the fear was that communism could advance regardless of any squabbles between the two communist powers. After the Indonesian coup, the fear subsided (the US DoD identified Indonesia as the paramount domino), but the US's credibility was arguably intertwined with the fate of South Vietnam by that point
You bring up some very good points that could probably be debated endlessly because this is a very controversial topic. I will present my own take to better explain what I mean when I talk about Domino Theory. I have not seen this discussed anywhere else. As far as I know, this take is uniquely my own.
I believe there are influential nations that influence surrounding nations. Russia influenced China and Eastern Europe. China influenced the surrounding countries of Korea and Vietnam to become Communist. Vietnam influenced Cambodia and Laos. However, the ideology becomes less influential the further it moves away from its main source of influence. Eventually, an ideology comes up against competing ideologies. When Communism tried to spread beyond the Eastern Bloc, it met resistance and froze. That is why when China started transitioning into a mixed economy, there was no need to worry about other countries falling to Communism.
Domino Theory would say ideological expansion is infinite. I say that ideological expansion is finite and will naturally reach a point where it cannot spread any further.
On the domino theory, I believe Lee Kuan Yew attributed Singapore's ability to develop to US intervention in Vietnam. He believed the theory was sound not due to a fear of monolithic communism but rather due to the fragility of Southeast Asian states during the sixties. Given the Confrontation with Indonesia, the insurgency in Thailand, and SIngapore's recent divorce with Malaysia, the fear was that communism could advance regardless of any squabbles between the two communist powers. After the Indonesian coup, the fear subsided (the US DoD identified Indonesia as the paramount domino), but the US's credibility was arguably intertwined with the fate of South Vietnam by that point
You bring up some very good points that could probably be debated endlessly because this is a very controversial topic. I will present my own take to better explain what I mean when I talk about Domino Theory. I have not seen this discussed anywhere else. As far as I know, this take is uniquely my own.
I believe there are influential nations that influence surrounding nations. Russia influenced China and Eastern Europe. China influenced the surrounding countries of Korea and Vietnam to become Communist. Vietnam influenced Cambodia and Laos. However, the ideology becomes less influential the further it moves away from its main source of influence. Eventually, an ideology comes up against competing ideologies. When Communism tried to spread beyond the Eastern Bloc, it met resistance and froze. That is why when China started transitioning into a mixed economy, there was no need to worry about other countries falling to Communism.
Domino Theory would say ideological expansion is infinite. I say that ideological expansion is finite and will naturally reach a point where it cannot spread any further.
Let me know what you think.