| ID | 134905 |
| Title Proper | Virgin Mary is going south |
| Other Title Information | refugee resettlement in South Vietnam, 1954–1956 |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Elkind, Jessica |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article examines South Vietnamese and American efforts to aid in the migration and resettlement of nearly one million northerners during the mid-1950s. I argue that those efforts were not the overwhelming success that policy makers claimed, but instead failed to satisfy critical goals such as enlarging Ngo Dinh Diem’s political base and increasing South Vietnam’s chances of survival.
This article also concludes that refugee resettlement laid the groundwork for future American involvement in Vietnam and foreshadowed tensions that ultimately doomed the partnership between Diem and the United States. Their experiences during the refugee period instilled in American policy makers and civilian aid workers a misplaced optimism about Diem as well as the effectiveness of U.S. efforts to support and “modernize” the South Vietnamese state. Understanding this critical episode illuminates some of the previously overlooked explanations for the failures of U.S. nation building and the tragedy of the war in Vietnam. |
| `In' analytical Note | Diplomatic History Vol.38, No.5; Nov.2014: p.987-1016 |
| Journal Source | Diplomatic History Vol: 38 No 5 |
| Standard Number | United States – US |