In the Shadows of Utopia: The Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian Nightmare

How would you react to being forced out of your home at gunpoint,  ordered to leave all of your belongings behind, and instructed to walk for days, weeks and months, to an unknown fate in the countryside? ​This first episode of the series is intended to be a brief introduction into some of the context and themes that are at the centre of this 'Khmer Rouge Podcast' or 'Cambodian Genocide Podcast'. An introduction to the complex set of circumstances that Cambodia faced midway through the 1970s, including internal forces and external, had conspired to engulf the country in chaos, misery and war. But that was just the beginning of the nightmare.​The conquest of Cambodia by the Communist Party of Kampuchea, known to the world as the Khmer Rouge, would usher in one of the most destructive and murderous regimes of the 20th century. This limited series is an attempt to provide a detailed narrative history of Cambodia, with a focus on explaining the rise of the Khmer Rouge and the reasons why their utopian visions ended with more than one quarter of the population dying in three years, eight months and twenty days. More than two million Cambodians, as well as various ethnic minorities, will perish at the hands of their own government. This story requires time, research and explanation of both historical factors in Cambodia as well as the wider world, and the idea of a journey in time and place between Angkor and Tuol Sleng will be set out methodically. SourcesPin Yathay Stay Alive My SonDavid Chandler A History of Cambodia and Voices From S-21Philip Short Pol Pot: History of a NightmareRoland Neveu The Fall of Phnom PenhElizabeth Becker When the War Was OverSupporthttps://www.shadowsofutopia.com/support.html

How did the Khmer civilisation begin? How were they able to prosper to the point of building the megacity of Angkor?Time period covered: 2000 BC – 900 ADIn this episode, Lachlan seeks to explain the early processes that developed amongst the Khmer civilisation in and around the region that would eventually become Cambodia. This involves an explanation of the different cultural influences from India and China that would see a kind of hybridised people come to prominence on the Indochinese mainland. The story of early Funan and Chenla, as well as the development of the ‘Devaraja cult’; a system where a universal monarch is regarded as a kind of incarnation of a deity is discussed as well as the establishment of the early cities which will become the seat of the vast Khmer Empire. The ingenious methods of water management that will support the kinds of society and architecture the civilisation is famous for is also explained. The episode ends at the reign of Suryavarman and the construction of Phnom Bakheng and the vast baray, in the era just before the ‘peak’ of the civilisation. SourcesDavid Chandler A History of CambodiaSupporthttps://www.shadowsofutopia.com/support.html

How did the largest city in the pre-industrial world function? What was Khmer society like during the ‘golden age’ of Angkor? How did this civilisation falter and fade?Time period covered: 1100 - 1431Lachlan begins this episode with a discussion of one of the most impressive and famous examples of Khmer architecture; Angkor Wat. The details of this building, and what it meant for the civilisation that could build it, is explained. We also learn about the life and times of Jayavarman VII, widely recognised as the ‘greatest’ of the Devaraja who lead the Khmer to conquer the greatest extent of territory and build some of its most iconic temples. Zhou Daguan, a Chinese diplomat who visited the region, is discussed as he gives a rare insight into the lives and culture of the Khmer at Angkor somewhere near it's peak. But changes would soon follow. But rather than using words like 'collapse', 'decline' or 'fall' to describe this period of Khmer civilisation, it may be more accurate to term this process as the 'transformation' of a society. The reasons for this transformation, ranging from climate change to religion are discussed.SourcesDavid Chandler A History of CambodiaZhou Daguan The Customs of CambodiaBBC, ‘Jungle Atlantis: Angkor Wat’s Hidden Megacity’ 2014Virtual Angkor Project https://www.virtualangkor.comSupporthttps://www.shadowsofutopia.com/support.html

Tom Chandler is a senior lecturer at Monash University. His research has focused upon the design and development of immersive simulations of the past, particularly the medieval Cambodian capital of Angkor. In what is the first interview of the series Lachlan speaks with Tom about how immersive virtual recreations can transform our imagination of the 'skeletal remains' of Angkor. The uses of this research for historians as well as the resources that Tom and his team at the Virtual Angkor Project are discussed, as well as his thoughts on technology and archaeology. Visit https://www.virtualangkor.com/ for more information about the project Tom is building.

How did the Khmer go from a civilisation which dominated most of mainland Southeast Asia, to a reduced vassal state of either the Siamese or the Vietnamese? Why did the capital move from Angkor? Why are the Vietnamese the ‘hereditary enemy’ of the Khmer?Time period covered: 1431 - 1800The next part of the series is hugely important for establishing the context of Cambodia in the 20th century, and therefore the factors leading to the Khmer Rouge revolution. The transition of Angkor to Phnom Penh, as well as the relationship that develops between the Khmer and their neighbours in Siam and Vietnam are important aspects of Cambodian history in its ‘dark ages’ or ‘middle period’. In this episode, Lachlan introduces a brief history of Vietnam, as this eastern neighbour will play a vital role in the story of the region in the 20th century and is necessary for a Cambodian History podcast focusing on the Khmer Rouge.SourcesDavid Chandler A History of CambodiaChristopher Goscha Vietnam: A New History Supporthttps://www.shadowsofutopia.com/support.html

Professor David Chandler is perhaps the most widely recognised and respected scholar of Cambodian history. Author of books such as A History of Cambodia, Brother Number One, Voices from S-21 and The Tragedy of Cambodian History, David has also testified as an expert witness on two occasions during the trial of former leaders of the Khmer Rouge. I had the privilege to sit down with Professor Chandler in his home in Melbourne to discuss ideas about the current state of Khmer Rouge historiography, his thoughts on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, whether the crimes of the CPK can be considered 'genocide', and his experience visiting the country so soon after it 're-opened' in 1981. David was until recently a Professor Emeritus at Monash University, where I first met him in 2011.Supporthttps://www.shadowsofutopia.com/support.html

What happened in the years leading up the French colonisation of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam? How did Cambodian rulers become so dependent on either Siam or Vietnam for protection? Time period covered: 1789 - 1887In this episode, Lachlan bridges the gap between Cambodia’s ‘middle period’ and the dawn of French colonisation of Indochina. Beginning with the French revolution and its links with the eventual Khmer Rouge revolution, we then explore the imposition of Vietnamese control on Cambodia in the 19th century, as well as the story of a French naturalist who visited the region. The episode ends with the different ways in which the French conquered Cambodia and Vietnam.The story of Cambodia’s ‘years of calamity’ and the influence of this period on the psyche of a country dominated by the ascendant Siam and Vietnam is explored. We even have an introduction to the early years of Saloth Sar, otherwise known as Pol Pot.SourcesDavid Chandler A History of CambodiaHenri Mouhot Travels in Siam, Cambodia and LaosPhilip Short Pol Pot: History of a NightmareSupporthttps://www.shadowsofutopia.com/support.html

What did French control of Cambodia look like? How did this ‘Protectorate’ function? What are the origins of Cambodian nationalism? What was life like for your average Khmer in the early 20th century?Time Period Covered 1880 – 1938This episode centres around Cambodian history as the French instigate the colonisation of Indochina. We learn about the early reactions to French rule, as well as the treatment of the Khmer by the imperial power and how the 'protectorate' functioned. The murder of the French 'resident' Felix Louis Bardez  in a rural hamlet also prompts a discussion of the culture of the Khmer living in the areas outside of the major towns and cities based on May Ebihara's groundbreaking work. This episode continues detailing the early life of Saloth Sar, and his family, as well as introducing Son Ngoc Thanh, and the first Khmer language newspaper 'Nagaravatta'. Episode Content Map Google Maps ImageSourcesDavid Chandler A History of CambodiaBen Kiernan How Pol Pot Came to PowerPhilip Short Pol Pot: History of a NightmareMay Ebihara Svay: A Khmer Village in Cambodia