A Country Study: Laos

• Laos
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Table A. Chronology of Important Events
• Country Profile
  • Geography
  • Society
  • Economy
  • Transportation and Communications
  • Government and Politics
  • National Security
• Introduction

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Arthur J. Dommen)
  • Early History
    • Power Centers in the Middle Mekong Valley
    • Mongol Influence
    • The Founding of Lan Xang
    • The Division of Lan Xang
  • Developments in the 19th Century
    • The Hold of Siam
    • The Eviction of Siam
    • Laos Under the French
  • World War II and After
    • The French Protectorate and Direct Administration
    • Nationalist Stirrings
    • Events in 1945
    • The Lao Issara Government
    • A Confusing Situation
  • The Coming of Independence
    • The Kingdom of Laos
    • The Pathet Lao
  • Toward Neutrality: The First Coalition
    • Initial Difficulties
    • Renewed Negotiations
    • A Fragile Unity
    • The 1958 Elections
    • North Vietnamese Invasion
    • The Army Enters Politics
  • The Attempt to Restore Neutrality
    • A Deepening Split
    • The Battle of Vientiane
    • The Widening War
  • International Pressure and the Advent of the Second Coalition
    • Expansion of Pathet Lao Influence
    • Protracted Diplomacy
    • Renewed Strains
    • The "Secret War"
  • The Third Coalition and the Lao People's Democratic Republic
    • The Vientiane Agreement
    • The Origins of the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Question
    • Formation of the Third Coalition
    • The Communist Seizure of Power
    • Establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
    • "Seminar Camps" and the Death of King Savang Vatthana
    • Postwar Relations with the United States
    • Developments in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

• Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment (W. Randall Ireson)
  • The Physical Environment
    • Topography
    • Climate
    • Transportation Routes
    • Natural Resources
  • Population
    • Ethnic Diversity
    • The Refugee Population
    • Rural-Urban Distribution
  • Rural Life
    • Lowland Lao Society
    • Midland Lao Society
    • Upland Lao Society
    • The Pattern of Rural Life
  • Urban Society
  • Religion
    • Buddhism
    • Animism
  • Education
    • Education Prior to the Lao People's Democratic Republic
    • Education since 1975
  • Health and Welfare
    • Public Health
    • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
    • Health Infrastructure
    • Social Welfare
  • Future Trends

• Chapter 3 - The Economy (Susannah Hopkins)
  • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Agriculture in the Economic System
    • Crops and Farming Systems
      • Rice
      • Other Crops
      • Livestock
    • Fishing
    • Forestry
    • Agricultural Policy
    • Environmental Problems and Policy
  • Industry and Services
    • Industrial Output and Employment
      • Manufacturing
      • Energy
      • Mining
      • Construction
    • Services
      • Wholesale and Retail Trade
      • Tourism
    • Industrial Policy
  • Transportation and Telecommunications
    • Roads
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Inland Waterways
    • Civil Aviation
    • Telecommunications
  • Public Finance
    • The Budget Deficit
    • Government Revenue
    • Government Expenditure
    • Policy
  • The Financial Sector
    • The Banking System
    • Money and Prices
    • Money Supply and Inflation
  • The Balance of Payments
    • The Foreign Exchange Rate
    • Foreign Trade
      • Exports
      • Imports
      • Trade Partners
      • Trade Balance
      • Trade Policy
      • Transit
    • Direct Foreign Investment
      • Policy
      • Investment Projects
    • Foreign Aid
    • External Debt
  • Prospects for Growth

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (MacAlister Brown and Joseph J. Zasloff)
  • The Lao People's Revolutionary Party
    • Origins of the Party
    • Party Structure
    • Semisecrecy of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
    • Ideology of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
    • Leadership
      • Internal Stability and External Influences
      • Key Leaders
  • The Constitution
    • Development of the Constitution
    • Highlights of the Constitution
  • Government Structure
    • Bureaucratic Culture
    • Executive
    • Legislature
    • Judiciary
  • Challenges to the Regime
    • Human Rights
    • Insurgents
    • Refugees
    • Political Opposition
  • Mass Media
  • Foreign Policy
    • Basic Goals
    • Bureaucratic Complications
    • Economic Factors
    • Bilateral Relations
      • Relations with Vietnam
      • Relations with Thailand
      • Relations with China
      • Relations with the Soviet Union
      • Relations with the United States
      • Capitalist Donor States
      • Multilateral Donors

• Chapter 5 - National Security (Nicholas C. Auclair)
  • The Armed Forces
    • Historical Background
      • The Colonial Era
      • The Royal Lao Army
    • Structure and Administration of the Armed Forces
      • Lao People's Army
      • Lao People's Air Force
      • Lao People's Navy
      • Other Military Units
    • Manpower and Conditions of Service
    • The Defense Budget
  • Threats to National Security
    • Internal Threats and Resistance Movements
      • The Ethnic Liberation Organization of Laos
      • The Hmong
    • Foreign Military Presence
    • The Confrontational Relationship with Thailand
    • Relations with the United States
  • National Police and Paramilitary Forces
  • The Criminal Justice System
    • Civil Liberties and Human Rights
    • Detention Centers
  • Narcotics and Counternarcotics Issues

• Appendix. Tables
• Bibliography
• Glossary