American Foreign Policy in Cambodia and the Rise of Khmer Rouge

Gabriela Sommerová Americká politika v Kambodži a vzestup Rudých Khmerů U.S. Policy in Cambodia and the Rise of the Khmer Rouge Abstract Following the outbreak of the Cold War, the United States of America established strong ties with Cambodia in order to prevent the spread of communism in Indochina. The U.S. policy in Cambodia significantly influenced the internal development of Cambodia and contributed to the rise of the Khmer Rouge, one of the most atrocious regimes in modern history. This thesis, "U.S. Policy in Cambodia and the Rise of the Khmer Rouge", deals with U.S.-Cambodian relations and their development between 1963-1973. It focuses on U.S. aid in Cambodia, the evolution of U.S.-Cambodia diplomatic relations, U.S. participation in the overthrow of the Cambodian head of state, and U.S. military operations in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Through historical analysis of significant milestones in the United States' and Cambodia's common history, this thesis evaluates the legitimacy of the United States' policy in Cambodia with regard to political development in Cambodia. The aim of the thesis is to compare the ways in which U.S. and Cambodian foreign policy of the 1960s and 1970s influenced the internal development of Cambodia and enabled the Khmer Rouge to seize power