key term - Khmer Rouge regime

Definition

The Khmer Rouge regime was a radical communist government that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot. This regime aimed to transform Cambodian society through extreme measures, including the forced evacuation of cities, the abolition of currency, and the implementation of agrarian socialism, resulting in widespread suffering and the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Khmer Rouge aimed to create an agrarian utopia by forcibly relocating urban populations to rural areas to work in collective farms, leading to widespread famine.
2. Under the Khmer Rouge, all forms of religion were banned, and educated individuals, professionals, and perceived political enemies were targeted for execution.
3. The regime's reign of terror included notorious prisons like Tuol Sleng (S-21), where thousands were tortured and killed.
4. The Khmer Rouge's policies resulted in a devastating economic collapse and a massive humanitarian crisis, with millions suffering from starvation and disease.
5. After being ousted from power by Vietnam, remnants of the Khmer Rouge continued to wage guerrilla warfare against the Cambodian government for many years.

Review Questions

• What were the main goals of the Khmer Rouge regime during its rule in Cambodia, and how did these goals impact the population?
  • The main goals of the Khmer Rouge regime were to create a classless society based on agrarian socialism and to eliminate perceived threats to their vision, including urban populations, intellectuals, and ethnic minorities. This radical transformation led to forced evacuations from cities, widespread famine, and brutal repression. The impact on the population was catastrophic, with an estimated 1.7 million people dying due to execution, starvation, or forced labor.
• Analyze the methods used by the Khmer Rouge to implement their policies and discuss their consequences on Cambodian society.
  • The Khmer Rouge employed extreme methods such as forced evacuations of urban areas, mandatory labor in collective farms, and widespread violence against anyone considered an enemy. They abolished currency and private property, aiming to reshape Cambodian society entirely. These methods resulted in severe social disruption, economic collapse, and a humanitarian crisis that left deep scars on Cambodian society and contributed to long-lasting trauma among survivors.
• Evaluate the international response to the Khmer Rouge regime during its rule and after its fall. How did this response shape Cambodia's future?
  • The international response during the Khmer Rouge rule was largely passive, with many countries initially viewing them as legitimate rulers due to Cold War politics. After their fall in 1979 following the Vietnamese invasion, there was significant criticism regarding the atrocities committed. This led to some international efforts towards accountability but also prolonged instability as remnants continued guerrilla warfare. The complex international dynamics affected Cambodia's recovery process and ongoing political struggles long after the regime ended.

Related terms

Pol Pot:

The leader of the Khmer Rouge and Prime Minister of Cambodia, who orchestrated policies that led to mass genocide and severe human rights violations.

Genocide: The deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular group of people, which occurred in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime.

Vietnamese invasion: The military intervention by Vietnam in December 1978 that led to the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge regime in January 1979 and marked the beginning of a long period of Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia.