401 - Viet History Makers - Can the Vietnamese Think for Themselves?

The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.

In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and Professor Kevin Pham explore the life and legacy of Nguyễn An Ninh (1900-1943), one of the most compelling and intellectual rebels in Vietnam’s modern history. A journalist, lawyer, and revolutionary thinker, Nguyễn An Ninh’s ideas and activism challenged the colonial structures of his time, inspiring both admiration and controversy.

Often overshadowed by other figures of Vietnam’s independence movement, Nguyễn An Ninh stood apart as a voice that fused radical thought, cultural identity, and political defiance. His writings called for a cultural awakening among the Vietnamese youth and questioned the limits of colonial rule. Yet, his vision extended beyond political independence — he advocated for a more profound revolution of thought, values, and identity.

Join us as we delve into Nguyễn An Ninh’s remarkable journey, from his time in France absorbing revolutionary ideas to his return to Vietnam, where he became a symbol of intellectual resistance. We discuss how his philosophical approach to freedom and national identity made him a unique figure in the fight for liberation, and how his legacy continues to influence generations of thinkers and activists.

Whether you see Nguyễn An Ninh as an inspiring revolutionary, a romantic idealist, or a misunderstood visionary, this episode offers a fresh perspective on a man whose ideas transcended his time and continue to resonate in Vietnam’s ongoing search for identity and self-determination.

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Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts.

He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024).

Kevindoanpham.com

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

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