Cambodia's recovery post-genocide has been notably supported by substantial international aid and economic backing. From 1992 to 2017, the country received over $20 billion, facilitating remarkable progress in various sectors.
By many statistical measures, Cambodia has seen great success in moving forward positively following the genocide that occurred in the 1970s. As a result of a vastly different approach to economics and style of governing, the CPP has transformed that nation in a far more positive way than the Khmer Rouge did. The quality of life, access to water, and literacy rates are all positive measures, but Cambodia still has a long way to go. The people of Cambodia still suffer the effects of the genocide and, as a result of the corrupt government, bribery has allowed crime to thrive unchecked. As proven by the PTSD that many Cambodians face today; moving forward does not mean simply forgetting the genocide and seeking economic growth. For Cambodia to overcome Pol Pot's regime, they must provide aid to those who are still affected mentally by the genocide and dismantle the corruption that exists in the government as of current. Cambodia's recovery, in terms of economics has been exceptional but this should not be justification for letting corruption and psychological damage amongst civilians go unchecked.
Cambodian Genocide Inquiry Question
How did Cambodia recover? Did it move forward in a positive way?
Corruption and Negative Attempts to Move Forward
Rampant corruption has surfaced as one of the most prominent issues facing Cambodia as a nation after the conclusion of the genocide. Though Cambodia has seen economic growth on a scale that defied much of the international community's expectations, the nation is governed by a one-party state. Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen originally governed the Cambodian People's Party, meaning that each leader saw a level of opposition that prevented them from having absolute power. This all changed though, when Hun Sen lead a successful coup against Norodom in 1997; gaining absolute power over the nation and leaving 32 dead in his wake. With only one party in power, corruption and more specifically bribery has become common in interactions with the government. Many criminals have avoided justice through bribes to the People's Party and this ideology has even trickled down into healthcare/schooling. In Cambodia, "even ordinary citizens trying to access free education and healthcare must bribe the teachers and doctors to be taught and graded or to be seen and treated" (Harper, 2023). -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------As well as the corruption that promotes a level of inequality throughout Cambodia, many citizens also suffer the effects of PTSD. The psychological effects of Pol Pot's genocide have led many Cambodians into depression and even domestic violence. Though the quality of life and economic statistics that Cambodia has exhibited in the 21st century are positive, it is in these ways that the nation has moved forward negatively.
Economic Growth and International Support
Cambodia has seen mass economic support and international aid in the years following the genocide. According to Harvard's international review, "Between the establishment of UNTAC in 1992 and 2017, Cambodia received over US$20 billion" (Harper, 2023). With this massive amount of support, Cambodia has been able to thrive in a way that most war-torn countries are unable to in the years following a nationwide conflict. Statistics relating to the recovery of Cambodia are seen as overwhelmingly positive, such as nationwide poverty falling from "47.8 percent in 2007 to 13.5 percent in 2014" (The World Bank, 2017). This has been accompanied by low annual inflation rates, mass growth in the tourism sector and an overall improvement in the quality of life in Cambodia. Again, according to The World Bank, access to electricity has increased greatly from 33% to 60% as of 2016 and more Cambodians have access to clean drinking water than ever before. Millions of jobs have been created and, despite Pol Pot's attempt to kill all intelligent and literate Cambodians, literacy rates have skyrocketed in the 21st century. Schools have risen from a rate of 17% enrollment in 1997 to 96% as of 2014 (The World Bank, 2021). In these ways, aided by the funding and international support they received, Cambodia has changed drastically in the years following the genocide. Cambodians have a higher quality of life, literacy rate and employment statistics; all of which have contributed to stellar economic growth across the 21st century.
The Cambodian People's Party
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is a communist political entity that has existed in Cambodian since the 1950's. Originally named the Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP), it was a subsidiary of this group (the Communist Party of Kampuchea) which would eventually become the Khmer Rouge shortly before the genocide began. Regardless though, the original KPRP did not share the values perpetuated by the Khmer Rouge and took over shortly after the genocide concluded. Led by Pen Sovan, the KPRP sought to restore peace in Cambodia and begin recovering economically from losing nearly a quarter of the nation's population. The party would eventually be taken over by Hun Sen in 1991 and was renamed the Cambodian People's Party during a peace and reconciliation process. Under the CPP's leadership, Cambodia has transformed entirely in an economic sense. The nation, which was previously war-torn and on the verge of economic ruin, has improved steadily to the point of being considered a lower-middle income economy. The CPP has achieved this through employing the ideologies of a social market economy. This system uses a combination of a free market economy, where areas of the economy are allowed to thrive unchecked and undisturbed, as well as socialism, where the government intervenes. This has allowed the country's economy to thrive naturally and inspire competition in some sector, while the government still maintains human rights and important facilities. The CPP, with Hun Sen's leadership, still rules over Cambodia today, and hopes to continue growing/recovering their economy from the genocide.
UN Involvement
Following the U.S bombing and genocide that occurred in Cambodia, the country was in complete disrepair. As Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge government had been overthrown, the U.N sought to restore peace in the nation until a new government had been formed. This transitional government, the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), was set up in February 1992. After establishing this organization, the U.N began deploying troops in Cambodia to maintain the ceasefire agreement, demobilize military units and supervise the Cambodian police force. The group was comprised of administrative supervisors, military personnel, human rights activists and grew to size of 21,000 members at its peak (UN). Not only did UNTAC restore order in the nation, but it allowed the UN refugee agency to start repatriating refugees who had fled Cambodia during the genocide. An estimated 360,000 displaced Cambodians were returned to the nation (UN) during the time that UNTAC was established. Possibly the most significant contribution that UNTAC made though, was its effort in establishing a new government in Cambodia for when it would eventually withdraw its forces from the country. In May of 1993, UNTAC oversaw an electoral process in Cambodia through which twenty political parties took part. Cambodians voted on what system of government they wanted moving forward and, in a majority vote of 90% (UN), a Constituent Assembly was chosen. Governed by two prime ministers, Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen, UNTAC was now able to withdraw knowing that there was a semblance of order that would be maintained in Cambodia.
