The theory and practice of frontier development: Vietnam's contribution

This paper presents examples of agricultural expansion and frontier development throughout world history. Following a preliminary appraisal of the immense literature devoted to the topic, some key ideas and interpretations concerning the foundations, processes and consequences of frontier development are presented. These are drawn from a broad spectrum of European, American and Asian experiences and refer to geopolitical, demographic and ethnic issues. A brief survey of Vietnam's own historical and contemporary experience both confirms and enriches these interpretations while raising questions about the intensity of the process and the country's capacity to maintain it in high gear.