Discuss the factors in the period 1955 1979 that impeded the development of a successful independent
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Cambodia's independence was hindered by many factors during the period 1955-1979. These included domestic developments, non-aligned foreign policy, the Kampuchean (or Khmer) People's Revolutionary Party (KPRP), war and insurrection as well as the Khmer Rouge. Individuals such as Lon Nol, Pol Pot and Sihanouk also contributed to the impediment of independent Cambodia.
The Domestic developments began on March 2 1955; Sihanouk announced his abdication in favour of his father, Norodom Suramarit and became prince. Prince Sihanouk then created his own political 'machine' in 1955, the Sangkum Reastr Niyum (Popular Socialist Community), known as the Sangkum. It's most important aspects were the unified right-wing parties that were anticommunist. Sihanouk's new party defeated the Democrats, winning 83 percent of the vote, mainly due to its appeal to religion.
Sihanouk included a number of future leaders of the Khmer Rouge in his party- Hu Nim, Hou Yuon and Khieu Samphan. In 1963 the prince announced the nationalization of banking, foreign trade, and insurance as a means of reducing foreign control of the economy. Nationalization was aiming to give Khmer nationals a greater role in the nation's trade...