The Context of Cambodia During the Vietnam War

Cambodia's historical backdrop is crucial to understanding its involvement in the Vietnam War. Once the Khmer Empire, it faced territorial pressures from neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, which led to its vulnerability during French colonialism in the mid-19th century. The French colonization created a stark divide wherein Vietnam became an industrialized territory, while Cambodia was preserved largely as a rural kingdom, limiting its political and revolutionary advancements. This disparity resulted in a complex dynamic where Cambodia found itself at the mercy of external powers while harboring internal tensions among its various ethnic groups, setting the stage for future conflicts.