To co-opt or coerce? State capacity, regime strategy, and organized religion in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam

Abstract

This article explores the dynamic relationship between states, authoritarian regimes, and organized religion in the ostensibly Marxist-Leninist states of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Despite espousing an initial shared ideological commitment toward curbing the influence of domestic religion, actual regime policies toward these groups have varied considerably over time. I argue that the explanation for this difference can be found in unpacking the strength of each regime’s state apparatus. This article introduces a new typological theory for understanding how state capacity has shaped the divergent strategies Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese regimes have employed to manage organized religion during the post-Vietnam War era (1975 to present). In brief, I argue that regime elites in Vietnam have successfully co-opted organized religion through the state bureaucracy. Conversely, Marxist-inspired regimes in Cambodia and Laos have oscillated between policies of coercive violence and strategic accommodation to dilute the power of domestic religious groups.

Economy of Shadows: The Effects of Restrictive Regulation on Religiosity in China

“…It also makes broader contributions. Many people are interested in the relationship between state and religion generally (e.g., Cokgezen 2022; Cosgel, Langlois, and Miceli 2020; Ettensperger and Schleutker 2022; Howe 2021; Mataic 2018; Schleutker 2021). Many more are interested in the situation of religious minorities, including Christians, who worship under heavy restrictions.…”