The Domino Theory

[ComradeJunichi]

Communism is an international theory. So doesn't that make the Domino Theory true? I don't know what the whole theory was but, if socialism was in one country it would spread across?

[Nateddi]

The "Domino Theory" was a yankee pretext used as a paranoia booster in public relations campaigns in the 60's to justify US military intervention in Viet Nam.

It is basically the same as the current affair with Iraq, we have a pretext of "possible development of chemical and biological weapons" which is out of context and irrelevent, even if it is true. This is used to justify an attack on Iraq.

If you ever wished to relive the Cold War (or actually experience it for a first time), pay great attention to this war on terrorism. You will notice many extreme similarities, especially to enemies and in the public opinion wars.

[Mazdak]

Although it would eventually happen. Like nateddi said, the "Domino theory" was a simple excuse, just like the "war on terror" to control all "free nations of the world." Just another excuse. Everything we did was excused because we were fighting "against communism."
Shows one the intelligence of the propoganda. communism? Try socialism.

[suffianr]

If you are referring to free market economics, well, the domino effect theory was validated during the Asian economic crisis of 1997, when Thailand floated the baht, it triggered devaluation of regional currencies and led to a prolonged recession.

Granted, it was the main excuse the US used to wage war on Indochina, but it wasn't just propaganda. Communism was on an upsurge in places like Indonesia, Borneo, Malaya, Thailand etc.

Communism was spreading like wildfire across South East Asia during the 1950's & 1960's, due to the so-called domino effect, and the "danger" was quite perceivably real.

Malaysia was even known as the "last bastion of democracy" in SE Asia. So much has changed since then, and with the state of democracy in my country now, that stupid phrase almost sounds funny.

[MiNdGaMe]

The Domino Theory, was propaganda, it stated that one country after another in Asia would fall to "communism", as "communists" created a government in one, "communists" would infiltrate the nearby countries and destablize them. To combat this the americans created SEATO, South East Asia Treaty Organization (France, Britian, US, Australian, New Zealand, India) to name some. It was to ensure that Australia and New Zealand would participate in any military action against "Communist Nations", to avoid the "Red Peril". I extracted this from my Year 9 SOSE book (THEY TEACH THIS SHIT IN SKOOLS!)

[ArgueEverything]

It seems pretty obvious to me that the Domino Theory (that communism would spread across SE Asia if Vietnam collapsed) was invalidated by the very fact that after Vietnam DID go commie, none of its neighbours followed suit. Indeed, the other "communist" country in SE Asia (Cambodia) was invaded by Vietnam. Such antagonism between "communist" countries is hardly indicative of communism spreading like wildfire throughout the region.