Perhaps “great success” is a descriptive phrase of the foreseeable outcome in the closing speech of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). It is not just a “tradition” but more than that saw by the state-controlled media’s reporting on the congress, including “attention-grabbing” statements by some party leaders.
The 13th Congress took advantage of “achievements” in the term to consolidate the party’s legitimacy. Moreover, the “outrageous” propaganda reveals the disease of the regime – “achievement disease.” Not only does that not hide the tension of the power transfer but also has the opposite effect, and wonders whether the totalitarian logic that dominates policy thinking becomes stronger?
“Achievements”
After the 12th term of “unstable” macroeconomics and institutions and in the context of the widespread and serious COVID-19 epidemic in the world, what Vietnam has achieved is successful. First of all, in terms of economy, according to World Bank data, with economic growth of 6.8% / year in the 2016-2019 period, Vietnam is in the top 10 of the highest growth countries, and in 2020, despite having many difficulties, Vietnam has successfully implemented the “double target” in epidemic prevention and maintained economic growth of 2.91%, contributing to the average 5-year GDP growth of 5.9%/year and the county is among countries with the highest growth rate in the region and in the world. The size of the economy increased by 1.4 times compared to the beginning of the term. Moreover, the quality of growth is improved at the same time by maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring major balances of the economy.
Next, the results of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control at low cost, mobilization of resources to cope with and overcome the disaster of storms, floods, and landslides in the Central region have highlighted the strength of the regime, the Government activeness in emergency situations, the spirit of mutual love and community support allows Vietnam to keep the “bright star position of the region,” according to foreign press comments.
One of the “successes” – which may have “made an important mark” in the 12th term is the “no-forbidden zone” anti-corruption campaign, in addition to the purpose of concentrating power, reorganizing the party, and somewhat reducing the social frustration before this “national disaster.” In which, “The Politburo disciplined 11 high-ranking members, including 2 members of the Politburo, 1 former member of the Politburo, 4 members of the Central Committee, 2 former members of the Central Committee, 2 deputy ministers, 2 police vice-ministers who were not members of the Central Committee. The Secretariat disciplined 41 senior officials, of which 12 were former members of the Central Committee … ”
An overview of the above “achievements” shows that challenges to the regime are closely related to each other in economics and politics. Anti-corruption is used to the utmost by the party leadership, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, as a useful tool to clean up the party apparatus and increase legitimacy, as well as the Party’s way to eliminate officials “self-evolve, self-transform” in ideology, leadership, who can create factions and cause internal divisions. Therefore, the fight against corruption serves the regime, through which the “party leadership image” in which the role of the leader is “more prominent.”
“Achievement disease”
The feeling of achievements is not bad if it is appreciated and used as a motivational force, but if it is exaggerated to attract attention, show merits or show off abilities, conceal defects, do not admit weakness and irresponsibility then the disease of achievement develops.
It would be unrealistic to see excessive enthusiasm for economic performance in the context of the world “grappling” with a severe and prolonged pandemic, economic crisis, and a turning point. The anti-corruption campaign is revealing the tensions in transferring and controlling the power of a large part of the moral-declining officials … Recently, on January 27, 2021, during the Congress, the third Covid-19 pandemic wave broke out so the government is forced to issue Directive 05 to block the entire city of Chi Linh, Hai Duong, close Van Don airport, Quang Ninh, Hanoi at “red alert,” and trigger the COVID-19 pandemics at its highest level to test the regime capability again.
Propaganda always has political colors. It is easy to understand when slogan phrases such as “the reform flag were raised,” “congress personnel and national blessings,” “Vietnam is standing at a turning point to make a breakthrough,” and “the country has entered a new phase,” etc. on the state media. The “aspirations” for a mighty industrial Vietnam and income with the milestones of 2025, 2030, and 2045 are highlighted, but the income target in the 2011-2020 strategy has not been met and must be re-evaluated.
The chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, when giving an interview to the press on the corridor of the 13th Congress on January 27, 2021, said: “Two major issues of the Congress’s Document to be submitted to this meeting are theoretically emphasizes the leading role of the Communist Party of Vietnam; emphasizes the role of the people, with the view that the people are the root, the center, the subjects participate and enjoy the fruits of the development. That is Vietnamese socialism.” The fact that he asserted that it was a “special model” which has no precedent in history” made researchers wonder.
A sign on the streets of Hanoi calls for the successful implementation of the 13th Congress resolution.
Moreover, this official said that it is necessary to protect the ideological work when: “The more we are successful, the more hostile, reactionary, political opportunities will be against us, because they have not ever given up on conspiracy against us.” Practically for the people in the country, the government has always deterred by arresting and condemning dissidents, and the number of arrests has increased in recent years. Recently, on January 21, 2021, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning human rights violations in Vietnam, which called on the authorities to release “human rights activists” and three “independent journalists” who were sentenced to between 11 and 15 years in prison, with all others imprisoned and sentenced solely for exercising freedom of expression. The European Parliament also noted the negative impact of the case on the implementation of the new Free Trade and Investment Agreements signed between the European Union and Vietnam, etc.
Policy thinking
The expression of policy thinking is totalitarian logic. It has not fundamentally changed since the wartime that it was only in times of crisis that the party loosened its grip, now allowing more liberal business, apparently, with the opportunity to manifest itself during the 13th Congress.
In Soviet history, after the Russian civil war in the early 20th century, V.I. Lenin, leader of the October 1917 Revolution, proposed the “New Economic Policy – NEP” (НЭП) allowing the use of capitalist economic mechanisms, calling for investment by domestic and foreign capitalists in the control and guidance of the socialist state. He “adjusted” Marxism for his political purposes, when K. Marx saw communism as the evolution of human society, and he thought that it was what had to be created.
As is well known, the NEP policy saved Russia from the brink of economic bankruptcy after the civil war and was the premise for J. Stalin to industrialize in the future. Totalitarianism is not limited to economics but is practiced in all areas of social life. This is the first model of the totalitarian communist party. Under the leadership of J. Stalin, the Soviet Union industrialized in an unprecedented short period of time, about 20 years, while Britain took 200 years to become an industrial country, America took 120 years, Japan needs 40 years…. However, central planning has not been “sustainable” in terms of competition and globalization.
Many researchers believe that the above totalitarian logic still dominates the ideas of Vietnamese leaders in the transition to a market economy. The terms “socialist-oriented market economy” and “communist will” are still emphasized in the congress documents, although “will” has no place in market policy thinking in the context of globalization.
Will the “achievement disease” make the totalitarian logic that governs policy thinking stronger again?
Thoibao.de (Translated)
