Discuss the reasons for the rise and fall of Pol Pot.

Candidates are required to offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for the rise and fall of Pol Pot, reviewing factors such as the instability of the regime of Sihanouk. This saw a succession of weak governments that failed to address economic stagnation and the impact of the Vietnam War, in particular the US bombing campaign in Cambodia. Pol Pot exploited these issues by securing Chinese support and employing effective political tactics, such as the forceful relocation of the urban population. He also projected himself as the kindly protector of peasant interests. The discussion of reasons for his fall may focus on the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, which resulted in Pol Pot fleeing to the north and the comprehensive defeat of the Khmer Rouge. Candidates may also discuss Pol Pot’s lack of visibility once in power, the failures of his policies and the factional disputes within the Khmer Rouge.