"Understanding the Failure of the US Security Transfer" Topic

… during the Vietnam War

"The Vietnam War sparked intense scrutiny and extensive research, as scholars seek to understand its intricate dynamics and far-reaching implications. A focal point of investigation is the transfer of responsibility from US troops to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) during Richard Nixon's presidency, as he aimed to bolster the ARVN's capacity to counter North Vietnam's aggression and maintain control over the southern region.1 Regrettably, the ultimate defeat of the South Vietnamese government has cast a shadow over this transfer, often deeming it as a failure.

Scholarly literature on the Vietnam War tends to attribute this unfavorable outcome to factors such as a scarcity of qualified commanders within the top echelons of the ARVN.2 While these determinants undeniably influenced events in Southeast Asia, it is crucial to acknowledge that the existing explanations are incomplete since they do not devote sufficient attention to other significant determinants highlighted in key primary and secondary sources. To rectify this oversight, this article will thoroughly examine the role of a short-term residual force and other factors closely linked to the US political climate, arguing that they exerted a more profound impact on the unfavorable outcome.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the delegation of responsibility in security transfers, this article draws on the principal-agent theory from the field of economics. Unlike the commonly employed international relations theory of realism, the principal-agent theory offers a framework for analyzing how actors actively delegate responsibilities to others. Consequently, this article asserts that this theoretical perspective is better suited for comprehending the dynamics of security transfers and can provide valuable insights into the factors that contributed to the failure of the US security transfer in Vietnam…"

Main page

link

Armand

You might also want to read "Black April: The Fall of South Vietnam 1973-1975" by George Jay Veith.

Thanks

Armand