27th Annual Student Research Conference
How was French Colonial Influence in Cambodia Erased During the Khmer Rouge's Regime Between 1975 and 1979?
Tyler D. Luckett
Dr. Patrick Lecaque, Faculty Mentor
This paper examines the near-complete annihilation of French colonial influence under the Khmer Rouge Regime, specifically in the realms of Education, Religion, and Language. The Kingdom of Cambodia became a part of the French colonial empire in 1863. This colonization lasted for some 90 years during which the French exercised varying levels of control. Shortly after becoming independent from France, the Khmer Rouge regime took control of Cambodia and their brutal killings ensued. Bolstered by a newfound sense of nationalism, the Khmer Rouge targeted nearly educated Khmers. By starting at the first contact between the European world and Indochina, relevant historical background is explored to give the framework necessary for understanding precisely how French influence in Cambodia suffered, particularly in the realms of religion, education, and language. An analysis is made in order to examine how the Khmer Rouge did everything in their power to erase their countrys weaker past.
Keywords: Cambodia, French, Colonial, colonialism, Post-Colonialism, Indochina
Topic(s):French Capstone
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 409-3
Location: VH 1324
Time: 3:00