Laos

Laos participated with a voluntary contribution of $1,500 for UNFICYP (UNDPI 1996, 708). Communist forces overthrew the monarchy in 1975, heralding years of isolation (BBC 2006aa, par. 1). Laos began opening up to the world in the 1990s, but despite tentative reforms, it remains poor and dependent on international donations (Ibid.). This is the main reason why Laos has not sent troops to UN peace operations.

Initial variables of the data collection process:

UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
No record.

Perception of peacekeeping
No record.

Domestic political environment
Communist forces overthrew the monarchy in 1975, heralding years of isolation (Ibid.). Laos began opening up to the world in the 1990s, but despite tentative reforms, it remains poor and dependent on international donations (Ibid.).

Several small bomb blasts in recent years in and around the capital, Vientiane, have suggested that opposition to the ruling party may be growing. But any public dissent is dealt with harshly by the authorities. The country's human rights record has come under scrutiny. Laos denies accusations of abuses by the military against the ethnic minority Hmong. Hmong groups have been fighting a low-level rebellion against the communist regime since 1975. (Ibid., par. 3)

The ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) will remain firmly in control, and will not face any serious challenge to its authority in 2007-08 (EIU 2006bt, 1).

Domestic economic environment
Laos, one of the world's few remaining communist states, is one of East Asia's poorest countries (BBC 2006aa, par. 2). Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 it has struggled to find its position within a changing political and economic landscape (Ibid.).

Military affairs
The military has long been well represented in political life (EIU 2006w, 8). In the current politburo (the senior party organ, which was appointed at the Seventh Party Congress), seven out of 11 members are generals and one is a colonel (Ibid.). The military’s activities are diverse, including involvement in reconstruction work and private business (Ibid.). Nevertheless, the fact that its military is well represented in political lilfe is could damage its changes of participating in UN peace operations. Also, “previous talk about a withdrawal of the military from business has never been translated into action” (Ibid.). The Lao People’s Army maintains a regular armed force of 29,100 (mainly army) and a local militia that numbers around 100,000 (Ibid.).

Foreign policy
Laos joined the ASEAN in July 1997, and it hosted the tenth ASEAN summit in Vientiane in November 2004 during its year-long stint as chair of the group (Ibid., 9).

This was the first time that Laos had hosted such a high-profile meeting, with around 3,000 delegates and journalists attending, including the heads of state of ASEAN's nine other members and the leaders of India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The summit passed off smoothly, despite the threat of disruption. Relations with the other late entrants to ASEAN (Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia) are particularly strong. (Ibid.)

Myanmar and Laos have had cordial relations following the signing of the Treaty on the Demarcation of Boundaries in 1994 (Ibid.). Ties with Cambodia are normally uncomplicated, apart from occasional friction along the border resulting from illegal logging (Ibid.). Laos has a particularly close relationship with Vietnam. Relations with Thailand remain close (Ibid., 10). Relations with China improve (Ibid.). Links with the US expand (Ibid.).

Additional variables found after the preliminary analysis:

Climate changes
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.

Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
No record.

Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
No record.