Configurations of Globalization in Laos and Cambodia: Does Faster Globalization Mean Better Development?

摘要

There are many similarities between Laos and Cambodia. Because of thesesimilarities it seems likely that both countries will share the most important traits oftheir development within the frame of globalization. The paper is to show that this isnot the case. If one looks at both countries from the perspective of universal history,the differences in their current development are of course insignificant. From thisperspective it is impossible, however, to say anything significant about bothcountries. And if one focuses on a single factor ??? like the economy or the politicalsystem ??? one overlooks the importance of most other global, regional and localfactors. The theoretical thesis of the paper is that one has to look at the wholeconfiguration of factors, which is singular for any historical moment and locality.Under the conditions of globalization, the configuration has to include global andregional factors. Following Pierre Bourdieu, the factors can be analyzed into socialfields, forces, and positions. Similarities and differences between Laos andCambodia are discussed in this framework.