A Study On The Aid Policy Of The United States To The Royal Lao Government 1954-1975

From the perspective of foreign aid,this paper uses FRUS and DDRS files to analyze and discuss the various assistance provided by the United States to the Royal Lao government during 1954-1975 and tries to analyze the effect and influence of the aid under the background of the cold war.The article explains the background of American aid,and discusses American aid from three aspects:American economic aid,military aid and educational and cultural aid to Laos.Most of the economic aid of the United States contains military purposes,serving the national interests of the United States and the containment strategy.It is not very in line with Laotian development plan,but also objectively promotes Laotian economic development.Under the guidance of American anti-communism,American military assistance strengthens the ability of resisting the subversion of Pathet and communism by assisting the Royal Lao government and the Miao army,in order to maintain the existence of a pro-American non-Communist regime.American educational and cultural assistance to Laos tried to break the elite education situation in French period and promote the development of Laos mass education.Of course,American culture also exerted a subtle influence on Laos.American cultural aid to Laos is more through psychological warfare and various media propaganda,which makes Laos feel close to American culture,resist communism and have a pro-American tendency.This paper analyses the effect and influence of American aid in the context of the cold war,and concludes that American aid serves the global strategy of the United States on the premise of national interests,in order to achieve the goal of anti-communism.Of course,American aid has objectively promoted the economic and cultural development of Laos.