Contemporary Vietnam: 30 years of development towards democracy?

Since the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam decided to adopt the programme of Doi Moi (reform programme of economic renovation) in 1986, Vietnam has been experiencing substantial economic and social transformation. The country moved from the centrally planned economy, underwent reforms in agriculture and state-owned enterprises, and pursued the trade liberalization. How are the modernization processes reflected in the political development of Vietnam? Is the country poised for the future democratization? What are the obstacles for shifting to democracy? The aim of the thesis is to find answers for these questions using the theoretical framework of selected criteria of classical theories of democracy. The issue is examined at the economic, political and social level