South Vietnam

Definition

South Vietnam, officially known as The Republic of Vietnam (RVN), was an internationally recognized sovereign state that existed from 1955 until 1975 in what is now Southern part of modern-day Vietnam.

Analogy

Going back to our siblings analogy, South Vietnam would be like our pop-loving twin. Despite being part of one family (or country), they have distinct preferences - or in this case, a non-communist government supported by western countries during Cold War era.

Related terms

Capitalism: An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments are determined by private decision; prices, production, and distribution are determined mainly by competition in a free market.

Vietnam War: A conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975.

Domino Theory: The theory that a political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries, like a falling domino causing an entire row of upended dominos to fall.