TTLA: Ho Chi Minh's Diplomacy in 1945 and 1946 – An International Political Science Approach

Author's name: Nguyen Thanh Tung

Dissertation Title: Ho Chi Minh's Diplomacy in 1945 and 1946 – An International Political Science Approach

Dissertation field: Political Science

Major: Ho Chi Minh Studies Code: 60 31 02 04

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and scope of the thesis

Objective: To clarify Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic thought and activities from 1945 to 1946.

Subject: Ho Chi Minh's thought and diplomatic activities in 1945 and 1946.

2. Research methods used

Theoretical and methodological basis of research: The basic research methodology of Marxism-Leninism, such as the Principle of Universal Interconnection, the Principle of Development, and the historical-specific perspective, aims to clarify the scientific dialectical nature of Ho Chi Minh's thinking and actions regarding Vietnamese diplomacy in 1945-1946. The dissertation is written primarily from the perspective of Ho Chi Minh studies, combined with the strengths and reasonable points of the field of international political science, in accordance with the requirements of the dissertation content.

Research Methodology: This dissertation employs a historical-logical method to analyze and interpret Ho Chi Minh's views, thoughts, and diplomatic activities, thereby formulating general arguments about Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy in 1945-1946. Furthermore, this method uses historical events to deduce the inevitable processes that political actors must undertake. The dissertation also employs other methods such as induction and deduction in presenting the issues.

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

- An overview of research related to the topic, aiming to clarify the achievements and shortcomings of studies on Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy in the years 1945-1946.

- Inheriting the strengths and rationale of international political science to establish a diplomatic analysis framework suitable for the topic.

- Clarify the world and Vietnamese issues that affected Vietnamese diplomacy during the period 1945-1946.

- Clarifying Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic thought and activities in 1945-1946 (from the perspective of modern international political science).

- An overview of the practical achievements and theoretical values ​​of Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy during the years 1945-1946.

- Applying the theoretical values ​​of Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy in the years 1945-1946, propose a plan for building and developing Vietnam's current diplomacy.

3.2. Conclusion

- During the years 1945-1946, under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, a systematic diplomatic strategy was built from fundamental foundations. This diplomacy was a transparent and rationally directed system aimed at the most essential goals that determined the survival of the nation, and secondary goals that supported those core objectives. With this system of objectives, Ho Chi Minh, along with the cadres and people of Vietnam, understood which interests needed to be fought for to the end, resolutely refusing to back down on the diplomatic front (such as political independence, territorial unity, promoting a positive image of the nation...) and which interests could be considered secondary, temporarily set aside, or even used as tools for diplomatic exchange (such as changing the name of the military apparatus, postponing elections, making concessions on some economic issues...).

- Given the very special circumstances of Vietnam after the August Revolution, Ho Chi Minh led and participated in the rapid construction of a fundamental, essential, diverse, and comprehensive system of national strength. Elements of strength such as legal, military, economic, cultural-moral, and national consensus played an extremely important role in helping Ho Chi Minh and the nation achieve many important accomplishments in the diplomatic goals they had set.

In summary, Ho Chi Minh's guiding diplomatic philosophy of "adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining core principles" was specifically manifested in strategic diplomatic ideas such as "appeasing Chiang Kai-shek," "targeting French colonialism," and "expanding friendly relations with international actors" through supplementary strategies like: "seizing opportunities according to circumstances and power," "using psychological warfare to gain friends and reduce enemies," "enduring humiliation for reconciliation," "principled concessions," "peace for progress," "deterrence," "upholding the legal basis," and "expanding and linking international interests"... These strategies directed flexible, appropriate, and effective diplomatic activities for each target/partner, clearly demonstrating Ho Chi Minh's love for peace in diplomacy during the years 1945-1946.

- The diplomatic ideas and activities proposed and implemented by Ho Chi Minh in less than two years (from August 1945 to December 1946) yielded many important results. Internationally, from a colonial territory, the position and power of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam were elevated and made more apparent in the eyes of many international actors. Ho Chi Minh also left behind extremely important diplomatic ideas and experiences, achieving a unified strategic vision for the long, medium, and short term, and highly relevant to Vietnam – a small, newly emerging nation facing a long-established superpower. These are invaluable ideological values ​​that remain almost entirely effective if correctly understood and applied to Vietnam's current circumstances.

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

The author's name: Nguyen Thanh Tung

Thesis title: Ho Chi Minh diplomacy in the years 1945 and 1946 – International Politics Approach

Scientific branch of the thesis: Political Science

Major: Ho Chi Minh Studies Code: 60 31 02 04

1. The name of postgraduate training institution: Thesis purpose and objectives

Purpose: Clarified the thinking and diplomatic activities of Ho Chi Minh from 1945 to 1946.

Objectives: Thought and diplomatic activities of Ho Chi Minh in 1945 and 1946.

2. Research methods

Theoretical Basis - Research Methodology: The basic research methodology of Marxism-Leninism, such as the Common Linkage Principle, Principles of Development, Historical Perspective - specifically to clarify dialectics - science in the thinking and action of Ho Chi Minh for diplomat Vietnam 1945-1946. The thesis is written under the main approach of Ho Chi Minh Studies, combining with the strengths and rational points of the field of international politics in accordance with the content requirements of the thesis.

Research methodology: The thesis uses the historical-logical method to analyze and interpret Ho Chi Minh's opinions, ideas and diplomat activities, thus extracting general diplomat points of view about Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy in the years 1945-1946; In addition, this method, through historical events, draws upon the inevitable processes that political actors must undertake. The thesis also uses other methods such as inductive, interpretive in the presentation of problems. etc.

3. Major results and conclusions

3.1.The major results

- An overview of the research related to the topic aims to clarify the achievements and the missing aspects of the Ho Chi Minh diplomat studies of 1945-1946.

- Inherit the strengths and rational basics of international politics to establish a diplomatic framework consistent with the topic.

- Clarifying issues of the world and Vietnam affecting diplomacy of Vietnam during 1945-1946.

- Clarifying the ideas and activities of Ho Chi Minh diplomacy in 1945-1946 (under the angle of modern international politics).

- Overview of the achievements and value of Ho Chi Minh's diplomat theory in 1945-1946.

- Applying the values ​​of Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic theory in 1945-1946, suggested to build and develop Vietnam's diplomacy.

3.2.Revisions

- In the years 1945-1946, under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, a diplomat strategy was built scientifically from the ground up. That diplomacy is a transparent, rational, mission-oriented diplomacy addresses the most essential goals that determine the survival of a nation and its secondary goals in support of its core goals. With this objective, Ho Chi Minh, along with Vietnamese officials and people, understood the benefits of fighting to the end, determined not to step back on the diplomatic front (such as political independence, unification to promote a positive image of the nation, etc.), and what are the secondary benefits, which may be delayed, may even be offered as a diplomatic tool (renaming the military, delaying the election, offering some economic benefits, etc).

- With the special circumstances of Vietnam after the August Revolution, Ho Chi Minh led and participated in building a system of basic strength, essential, diverse and comprehensive for the country. Power elements such as legality, military, economic, cultural-moral, national consensus, etc. played a very important role in helping Ho Chi Minh and his people achieved many important achievements from the diplomat objectives set out.

- In sum, Ho Chi Minh, with the mainstream diplomat thought, “firm in objectives, flexible instrategies and tactics in each level” were expressed specifically as the diplomatist ideology of “peace with China”, “Spearhead to the French colonialists”, “broaden friendly relations with international actors” through complementary strategies such as “lightning in time”, “more friends, fewer enemies”, “patience for detente”, “Principled concession”, “harmony to advance”, “deterrence”, “uphold the legal basis”, “expand and link the international interests"... directing for flexible, appropriate and effective diplomatist activities with each diplomat object/ partner demonstrates the spirit of peace in Ho Chi Minh diplomacy in the years 1945-1946.

- Ho Chi Minh's ideas and diplomatic activities, implemented in less than two years (from August 1945 to December 1946) brought many important achievements. To the international, from a colony of land, the strength and power of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has been raised and disseminated in the eyes of many subjects of international relations. Ho Chi Minh also left the thoughts and experiences of diplomat activities extremely important, achieving the long-term, medium-term and short-term strategic and suitable for Vietnam - a small emerging country - must deal with longstanding power. These are valuable values ​​​​thought, almost still remain effective if properly understood and applied properly in the current situation in Vietnam.