Behind the Bastards Part Two: The Pol Pot Episodes: How A Nice, Quiet Kid Murdered His Country
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Apr 30, 2025 AI Snips
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Pol Pot's Parisian Intellectual Influences
- Pol Pot was influenced by the French philosopher Rousseau's idea of the noble savage and idealized the Khmer peasantry.
- His radicalization was shaped by French Enlightenment and communist thinkers rather than by local realities in Cambodia.
Vietnamese Control of Cambodian Communism
- The Vietnamese communist leaders believed Cambodians couldn't independently develop communism due to lack of proletariat.
- They imposed control over the Cambodian communist movement, creating tension with Khmer nationalists and communists.
Year Zero Radical Revolution Concept
- The Khmer Rouge ideology embraced "year zero," aiming for a complete revolutionary break with history to create a new society.
- This reflects a mistaken belief that history can be transcended by sheer will and radical societal overhaul.