Leadership Styles of Minh and Diem in Vietnam

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Running Head: LEADERSHIP STYLES OF MINH AND DIEM IN VIETNAM 1 Leadership Styles of Minh and Diem in Vietnam Stephanie W. Murphy January 19, 2013 Professor Thomas Keyser LEADERSHIP STYLES OF MINH AND DIEM IN VIETNAM 2 Introduction The Geneva Accords were implemented in 1954 following the Geneva Conference to put an end to the first Indochina War. The conditions of the Geneva Accords called for an equal division of Vietnam into the Communist north led by Ho Chi Minh and the anti-communist south led by Ngo Nihn Diem. The division was to take place at the 17th parallel. One of the stipulations was that an election was to be held in 1956 which would decide the fate of whether Vietnam would be fall under the rule of Diem or Minh (Moss, 2010). Although both leaders shared a common goal of independence and freedom for the people of Vietnam their manner in which they chose to display their leadership styles differed, making them a favorite among their followers. Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh, whose name means “bringer of light” envisioned a unified Vietnam that would be governed under communist ruling. The war left North Vietnam in a complete state of destruction. Ho Chi Minh immediately focused his attention on rebuilding the nation. He wanted a nation that had not only a strong foundation internally (Devry, 2014), but also one that would be “economically self-sufficient”, (Moss, 2010, p.64). In order to achieve his goal Minh accepted aid from China and the Soviet Union but remained cautious in order to avoid becoming dependent on either nation such was the case of United States and South Vietnam, (Moss, 2010). Following years of oppression both politically and socially Ho Chi Minh brought hope to the people of Vietnam. His strong, charismatic, and inspiring personality (Devry, 2014) allowed him to appeal to the people of Vietminh on both a personal and
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