the domino therory was supported by many people in the 60s what did it mean?

Answer 1

The "domino theory" was specific to U.S. strategic purposes in the Vietnam War and other actions opposing Communist or pro-Communist parties, governments, leaders and forces in southeast Asia.

It was originally articulated in the late 1950's - I am working from memory on this one and may be wrong, but recall that Dean Atcheson was a principal promoter of the concept.

Although in general the United States chose to pusue a program of opposing the spread of Communism wherever the ideology seemed popular, and especially wherever governments based on Communist theory and principle were likely to arise, there were some parts of the world seen as more important than others in anti-Communist activity.

Southeast Asia is a region with substantial populations and very important natural resources. Oil, gas, timber, minerals, and rubber are chief among these. Japan ultimately went to war with the United States in World War II over control of and access to these resources.

In the late 1950's and the 1960's, American political strategists felt that if states such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Burma should become Communist, the Straits of Molucca through which much vital material had to pass would be taken over by hostile interests. A Communist Vietnam, it was said, would be the first "domino" to fall in a series of Communist takeovers of vital states, perhaps including Indonesia.

Besides the Vietnam War, the U.S. took action in Cambodia and Laos, based vast numbers of troops and aircraft in Thailand, and supported the overthrow of a suspected pro-Communist head of state in Indonesia. U.S. efforts also affected the governments of Burma and Malaysia.

Some of these efforts may have prevented later Communist successes in Malaysia, burma and Indonesia. However, both countries passed through long periods of conflict and instability and great suffering.

Thailand managed to avoid the terrible consequences of the Communist victory in Vietnam, but Cambodia and Laos were convulsed with war and death for a very long time afterward. Ultimately, the brutual military dictatorship that rules Burma today emerged from the destabilization caused by the Vietnam War and later undercover intervention in that country.

Answer 2

The theory was that if one country fell to the communists, then like dominos other countries in the same region would also fall. It was the basis for our involvement in Korea and VietNam, and covert operations in dozens of other places. It led to the US supporting dictators like the Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein on the theory that a dictator is better than a communist state, and we can all see how well *that* turned out...:(

Answer 3

The domino theory was a 20th Century foreign policy theory that speculated if one land in a region came under the influence of Communists, then more would follow in a domino effect.

Answer 4

That communism would spread from one nation to another like one domino falling against another. As one nation falls to communism it begins to influence it's neighbors, then infiltrates, agitates, starts uprisings, then revolts, then the overthrow of non communist governments. To some extent you can see this did in fact occur in southeast asia.

Answer 5

That if a country in one region of the world turned into a Communist State, the neighboring countries of the region would follow.

Answer 6

that if we (the US) did not support South Viet Nam against the communists in North Viet Nam that the other countries in South East Asia (Laos, Cambodia) would fall to communists like dominoes

Answer 7

The spread of communism one country at a time.

Answer 8

That if one country fell to communism all others would as well