The August Revolution of 1945 and the Shift in Major Powers' Perception of Vietnam’s National Sovereignty (1945-2025)

Abstract

The August Revolution of 1945 marked a historic turning point that not only changed the destiny of the Vietnamese nation but also strongly inspired colonized and dependent countries in their struggles for national sovereignty. The victory of the August Revolution posed a major challenge to colonial thinking regarding the sovereignty of colonial and dependent nations. From a historical and international relations perspective, this article analyzes the transformation in France’s and the United States’ perceptions of Vietnam’s national sovereignty, focusing on the following aspects: (i) the shift in perception of France and the U.S. toward Vietnam’s sovereignty during the Cold War period; (ii) the transformation in their perceptions after the Cold War; (iii) concluding observations and assessments.