Laos Wiki Final

Full name Role Active (Y/N) Completed work on time? (Y/N)* Quality of work (poor/ Good/NA)** 1. Hunter Heck Development Measures Y Y Good 2. Chirag Rastogi Colonial History Y Y Good 3. Pranav Yalamanchili Population and Resource Challenges Y Y Good 4. Emma Morley Agricultural Practices, Urbanization (Major Challenges Ex. 2) Y Y Good 5. Pranav Kandula Environmental Concerns Y Y Good 6. Teju Anand Gender and Development Y Y Good 7. Tyler Kim Development Aid Y Y Good 8. Connor Madden Industrialization Y Y Good 9. Max Masquelier Urbanization Y Y Good

Development Measures - Hunter Heck Laos is a small country located in Southeast Asia with China to it’s north, Vietnam to the east, and Thailand to the west. Laos is about 92 million miles in area, just over half the size of California. (Maps of World, 2020) Laos does not have many large cities, but it’s biggest city and capital of the country is called Vientiane, with a population of 948 thousand people. A couple other of it’s larger cities being, Pakse and Savannakhet. Each just under 100 people in population. While Laos relies heavily on foreign aid, recently the government has focused more on foreign investment. Laos relies heavily on it’s Gold and Wood Product industries that they have plenty of. A statement made by the Laos Government on their trade increase stated they plan on using a wider range of technologies to further increase their business environment. Around two-fifths of Laos land is forested making it’s wood products important for a lot of wood processing industries in the country. In recent

Colonial History - Chirag Rastogi French Colonization of Laos In the late 19th century, the French established themselves in what is now Vietnam and set up in consulate in Luang Prabang with Siamese permission. Between 1893 and 1907, they took control of Laos—incorporating it into French Cochin China along with Vietnam and Cambodia—through a series of treaties with the Siamese, British and Chinese. Despite several armed revolts, Laos continued as a French colony until the Japanese occupation during World War II. Timeline: First Strike (Sep 1, 1858) On September 1858, the French took their first strike at a city now known as Da Nang. This attack resulted in the French occupation of the whole city, and ultimately, colonization. Addition of Laos to the French Colonial Period (Oct 3, 1893) The French officially won Laos in the end of the Franco-Siamese War. When the Kingdom of Siam (Later renamed to Thailand) was defeated, Laos was signed over to the French. Exports of Laos mainly included opium produced by Hmong groups. Laotian Rebellion (Jan 1st 1918) Lao revolted against French Colonial Administration because of overtaxation. The revolt was led by Pa Chay Vue, a Hmong opium producer. The war spanned from 1918 to 1921 and resulted with the French promising to leave the Hmong suppliers of opium alone. Japanese Invasion of Laos (Jan 19, 1941) The Japanese invaded Laos near the end of WWII in 1941. During the Japanese occupation, French officials were imprisoned. The remaining French people who weren't imprisoned hid in the mountains and joined forces with Laotian insurgents. For the rest of the Japanese occupation, Laotian and French forces joined together to carried out attacks against Japanese officials and troops. Franco-Lao Treaty of Amity and Assosiation (Oct 22nd 1953) This treaty was signed on October 22 of 1953. It declared the Kingdom of Laos as an independent and sovereign state. Although the land was returned, shooting didn't stop until July 20, 1954 when the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in Laos was signed and the French retreated from Indochina.

https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/colonization-of-laos Impact : Even though the colonization of the French in Indochina was short and and often brutal, they left their marks in the culture. The food, language and architecture were/are influenced by this event. The french were the ones who recognized the beauty of Lung Prabang, an astonishing city located in the north central Laos. French colonial Architecture in Lung Prabang Built by the French, today, the Dong Cam Dam, as it is known, delivers water to 19,000 hectares, or 73 square miles, of vibrantly verdant rice fields.The completion of the dam and canal system has changed the lives of villagers, because they no longer needed to forage in the mountains for wild animals and edible roots. However, at the time that the dam was being completed, the French authorities were brutally suppressing uprisings in the northern provinces partly brought on by famine. Finally the French gave Laos its present name and its present borders.

Resource Misuse: The biggest misuse of resources in Laos currently is deforestation due to illegal logging and agricultural expansion. Annual tree cover loss in the nation has been steadily rising over the years, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Another example of resource misuse is mining operations and medium scale projects given by Laos companies to foreign operators. These projects and operations all result in the pollution of rivers with heavy metals (laos.opendevelopmentmekong.net). To combat the deterioration of its natural resources, the Laos government has passed many laws, including the Law on Water and Water Resources (2017), which focuses on water conservation and management (leap.unep.org). In addition to this, the government also creates Natural Protected Areas, which aim to protect the country’s wildlife and nature. Currently, there are 23 NPAs protecting 14% of the country’s total land.

Agricultural Practices - Emma Morley In Laos, agriculture makes up most of the country’s economy. Agriculture makes up around half of the country's gross domestic product and provides employment for over three fourths of the population (Dommen & Silverstein, 2018). Over 72% of agricultural land is reserved and used for the cultivation of rice ( Laos at a glance ). Farming Practices and Techniques The most common farming techniques practiced in Laos are irrigated rice paddy cultivation in lowlands and rain-watered swiddens in the uplands (Dommen & Silverstein, 2018). Rice paddies are highly irrigated and flooded fields which are prime for rice farming and swiddens are areas of land that are made viable for agriculture through the process of slash and burn. Laos Rice Patty (2013) Laos Swidden (2008) https://www.theroadtoanywhere.com/rice-fields-and-mountains-in-vang-vieng-laos-travel-photo/ https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/rice-01242013145047.html Due to the location of the rice paddies in the lowlands, they are very susceptible to the frequent floods that occur in Laos. Despite this they are still more productive than the swiddens in the uplands due to their utilization of more Western technologies like fertilizers and pesticides. It took Laos longer than most countries to join the Green Revolution of agriculture, this is mostly due to the presence and effects of the Vietnam war. The war left the country with constant food shortages and little investments available. “The [Laotian] government embraced agricultural modernization but lacked the resources to implement it,” (Cramb et al., 2020). As time went on and Laos was able to recover, from 1990-2007, work was done with the International Rice Research Institute. The work created varieties of rice specifically suited for Laos’ growing conditions so that Laotian rice production would be at self-sufficiency levels. This helped introduce Laos into the Green Revolution. As agriculture began to modernize, the country helped encourage it. Previously most farmers farmed solely for subsistence, but the government, wanting to shift to an agricultural production-based market, provided incentives for farmers to modernize their practice to produce higher yields.

Development Aid - Tyler Kim Since the mid-20th century, Laos has been continuously receiving foreign development aid. In 2019, Laos officially received US $631,510,009 in development assistance. Source: World Bank The net development aid for Laos has been generally increasing in the past years, with the steepest increase in aid from 2016, when Laos received the US $399,459,991. In three years between 2016 and 2019, Laos had received a 58% increased amount in development aid from international organizations. In 2017, Laos received $475.9 million in ODS (Official Development Assistance), which is equivalent to 3% of its gross national income (GNI). This ratio is slightly lower than the average of the least developed country (LDC), but second-highest among ASEAN countries after Cambodia. Laos is one of the countries that receive development assistance directly from the United States government through USAID. USAID funds five-year activity programs such as USAID LAOS MICROENTERPRISE and USAID LAOS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. The first program is to directly support the competitiveness of agricultural microenterprise in Laos, where the second program is to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while strengthening the business environment in Laos. These funds go directly to the small business owners and ventures in Laos communities, which can lead to economic independence and wealth generation to the people of Laos. Thongloun Sisoulith, current president of Laos, signed a decree on the administration of ODA on October 9th of 2019, when he was a prime minister. The

decree of the ODA ensures there stricter checks on spending development aid in government projects. A committee must be set up to oversee any projects and perform quarterly budget reviews. The decree also states that investments must be limited to sectors prioritized in the government socioeconomic plan. Regardless of stricter checks of the development aid, the Laos government will continue to accept ODA from overseas. The priority of the Laos government is to continue to invest in the energy, infrastructure, and agriculture sectors. On top of ODAs, the Lao government has been increasing its foreign debts to further invest in the national infrastructure.

roadmap for the Government’s actions to promote gender equality and prevent and respond to violence against women over the next five years” (Lao PDR integrates, 2021). As mentioned before, women are getting increased representation in parliament. Apart from government initiatives, LL-HSSP II made it a priority to make sure women have first preference when selecting trainees to become a birth attendant. The LAO/031 project led campaigns to fight for women's legal rights, appealing to the government and the community. The Clinical Legal Education and the National University of Lao conducted activities to increase awareness of gender inequality and addressed how women should be treated in society.

Environmental Concerns - Pranav Kandula Deforestation A common environmental concern within Laos is the ever-growing problem of deforestation. Laos is home to some of the most magnificent wildlife and scenes of nature however with recent demand in hydroelectric facilities, foreign demand for wildlife animals and nonwood forest products for food and traditional medicines, and a growing population there has been a rampant demand for deforestation. Throughout the years 1992 and 2002, the forest cover declined an average of 134,000 hectares each year, with the density of forests also declining (LOC) . In addition to that around the year 1992, it is estimated that forests occupied about 48 percent of Lao’s land area. In a recent survey taken in 2002, it is stated that forest coverage decreased to approximately 41 percent (VOASNews) . Deforestation brings in a plethora of environmental concerns including reduced biodiversity, the release of greenhouse gas emissions, forest fires, disrupted water cycles, and increased soil erosion. In addition to this, certain methods of deforestation also have an impact on the environment as slash and burn agriculture leads to pollution problems. Tree cover loss in Laos (ResearchGate 2016) https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Tree-cover-and-loss-with-30-canopy-density-in-Laos-for-the-period-2001-2016-Adapted_fig1_322095434 Invasive Species In addition to the problem of deforestation, another growing concern within Laos is the increase in invasive alien species. This problem contributes to a variety of environmental concerns including environmental degradation and a loss of biodiversity. The main influence of this is due to economic factors with the production of coffee as it is one of Lao’s main exports. With this

Industrialization - Connor Madden In the past, Laos has been one of the world’s least developed countries, having a nominal annual GDP of $19.1 billion dollars in 2020. Despite being one of the least developed countries, Laos is one of the fastest growing countries in terms of industrialization in Asia. It is estimated that their estimated GDP growth will be around 8% in the next few years and thus becoming an expanding market in the rapidly developing South-East Asia. As a baseline for industrialization, it is key for a country to invest in infrastructure improvements to establish a foundation for development. The Lao government has invested in bridges over the Mekong River, new roads, and expanding electric power lines to link expanding markets throughout the region. The Lao economy is still heavily based in agriculture, with over half of the labor being in specialized farming. However, there have been efforts to shift the work force into a manufacturing sector. Under the World Trade Organization and the ASEAN trade agreements, the new businesses have established better labor conditions and improved investor sentiment to attract new businesses to the country. Some of Laos’ largest industries include hydropower and mining which have driven the recent growth in exports. The top exports of the country come from those sectors being electricity, copper, rubber, and other precious minerals. Majority of the country’s exports go mostly to Thailand, China, Vietnam, Japan, and the United States. Investments made by foreign companies into factories in the manufacturing department have led to the growth in those non-resource sectors. Companies are enticed to invest in Laos to take advantage of the incentives offered by the World Bank and to utilize the communications links to the surrounding Asian countries. The Nam Theun 2, hydropower plant on Nam Theun River in Laos Source: sei.org, A new program helps Laos navigate its hydropower boom While Laos is in full swing of industrialization, there are still many factors that are holding the country back. Laos’ largest problem is their labor shortage. In 2014, the government estimated

that to meet their industrialization targets, they would have had to double their labor force from 300,000 to 600,000 workers. However, the Lao government approximates that about 200,000 Lao citizens work illegally in Thailand. Efforts are being made by the government to bring those workers home and get them legal jobs in Laos. Another issue surrounding the industrialization of the country is that the “rule of law” in the country is weak and corruption is rampant. A high ranking government employee was quoted a few years ago admitting that the courts can be swayed by the highest bidder. The country of Laos has made incredible strides in industrialization in the last few years which earned them a top spot on the list of fastest growing countries in the world. However, there are still a few roadblocks in the way of development including labor shortages and corruption. Overall, Laos continues to be an option for investing companies looking to expand in Asia and the country continues to grow in exports and annual GDP.

an urban hub, better transportation is required to access it in faster times and further distances. Therefore plans were made to make a large railway to connect the capital to China. To make space for the construction of this railway, “ Laos’ Ministry of Public Works and Transports estimates that approximately 4,400 families will be displaced from their current location,” (Jarabejo, 2019). Despite the fact that Laotian law says that the displaced families are owed compensation, a majority of families have either not been paid or underpaid by the government so far. Due to the railway, there are many more Chinese workers coming into the city, making suitable housing even more scarce. Laos-China Railway Running Through Farmland https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/rail-06172021143750.html

References “Colonization of Laos Timeline.” Timetoast Timelines https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/colonization-of-laos. Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cedaw.aspx Cramb, R., & Manivong, V. (2020). Adapting the Green Revolution for Laos. In White Gold: The Commercialisation of Rice Farming in the Lower Mekong Basin (pp. 121–149). essay, Palgrave Macmillan Dommen, A. J., & Silverstein, J. (2018, May 11). Laos - Agriculture, forestry, and fishing . Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Laos/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing . The Economist Intelligence Unit. “Laos Heightens Scrutiny of Foreign Aid.” Country.eiu.com, Economist Intelligence, 7 Nov. 2019, country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=758653259. Accessed 13 Dec. 2021. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (n.d). Laos at a glance . FAO. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.fao.org/laos/fao-in-laos/laos-at-a-glance/en/ . French control of Laos in the 19th and 2th Centuries https://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Laos/sub5_3a/entry-2935.html Gender context in Lao PDR. (2019, September 25). Retrieved December 13, 2021, from http://adwlelaos.org/background/gender-context-in-lao-pdr/ Gender equality in Lao PDR - LuxDev. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://luxdev.lu/files/documents/Genre_LAO_vF.pdf