Dystopian Discord: Cold War Politics and Cambodian Communism
Author
B.D. Mowell, Ph.D.
ISBN
978-1-959203-13-1
Print Version
$29.99
Dystopian Discord: Cold War Politics and Cambodian Communism delves into the complex interplay between ideology, nationalism, and conflict within communist regimes. Focusing on the Khmer Rouge's brutal rise and subsequent internal unrest within Cambodia, this book provides a groundbreaking analysis of how ethnic nationalism and xenophobia fueled one of the most catastrophic regimes in history.
Drawing from a wealth of primary and secondary sources, Dystopian Discord: Cold War Politics and Cambodian Communism explores the internal and geopolitical tensions that led to war among communist states in Southeast Asia during the Cold War, challenging the oversimplified narrative of a unified communist bloc. Ideal for scholars of military studies, political science, and international relations, this work offers critical insights into the darker facets of revolutionary movements and the enduring impact of ideological extremism on global conflict.
Dr. B.D. Mowell is a political scientist and historian with over thirty years of teaching and research experience in international and comparative politics. He has published widely on international security and political violence, contributing to journals such as the Journal of Global South Studies and International Studies. His recent work includes chapters in U.S. Security Issues and World War I (Â鶹´«Ã½ Press, 2023) and The Routledge Handbook of Religion, Mass Atrocity, and Genocide (Routledge, 2022). A former United Nations representative and Honorary Consul of Lativa, Mowell brings unmatched expertise to Dystopian Discord.
“Dystopian Discord is an impressive, original, and sophisticated study of the interplay of the historical, political, and international factors that led to the reign of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Barry Mowell provides us with valuable insights into the origins and policies of one of the most bloodthirsty communist movements of the 20th century.”
– A. James McAdams, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, author of Vanguard of the Revolution: The Global Idea of the Communist Party, Judging the Past in Unified Germany, and Germany Divided: From the Wall to Reunification
“Dystopian Discord is a groundbreaking addition to the study of Cambodian history and Cold War politics. . . . This book is not only a scholarly achievement but also a resonant warning about the power of ideology to shape global conflicts.”
– Sophal Ear, Ph.D., Arizona State University
“Dystopian Discord: Cold War Politics and Cambodian Communism by B.D. Mowell is an in-depth historical perspective of the Khmer Rouge, or Cambodian Communist faction, that implemented a reign of terror in Cambodia that led to the death and displacement of millions. . . . It helps us understand the tragedy that unfolded in Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge takeover in the 1970s and the subsequent turmoil that has plagued the country since.”
– Ambassador Charles Ray, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia 2002–2005
Details coming September 2025.
