The Increased US-Vietnamese economic trade relations improved the diplomatic and political relations between the two countries since the diplomatic normalization in 1995

摘要

Interdependence theory of liberalism with the core meaning that economic interdependence can foster peace had explained many case studies in the world. The purpose of this thesis is to prove that interdependence theory also explains best the Vietnam-US economic trade relations after the two countries normalized their diplomatic relations in 1995 with the meaning that the US-Vietnam's increased economic trade relations improve their political and diplomatic relation. After the Vietnam War ended, Vietnam-US relations were completely frozen. By 1995, the two countries normalized their diplomatic relations and they started to trade with each other. Up until now, the two countries achieved great trade development through both bilateral economic relations and international organizations. The strong development of US-Vietnam trade economic relations has improved their political and diplomatic relations. Based on interdependence theory of liberalism, this argument is proved by five main points: First, since 1995 the economic trade relations provided more valuable benefits than the wartime so that the two countries want to trade with each other and avoid conflicts. Second, the development and expansion of trade and economic relations have positive effects which spillover to other sectors, creating a favorable environment to promote military and diplomacy relations between the two countries. Third, increases in the trade and economic relations lead to enhance communication, cooperation, trust, dependency between the two countries thus reduce misunderstanding and the likelihood of conflicts. Then, when trade relations increase, common economic interests between the US and Vietnam also enhance, making the two countries closer to each other and likely to use negotiations and diplomacy to solve problems that do arise between the relations of the two countries. Finally, the economic trade relations of the two countries through international organizations provides forums for the US and Vietnam to communicate and solve problems that do arise between them. In future, it is predicted that the economic dependence between the two countries will develop further. Therefore, the US-Vietnamese political and diplomatic relations continue to be strengthened in the future.