Study On Participation Of The United States In Development Of The Mekong River In The Perspective Of International Development Concept

After the Second World War,poverty and backwardness of the newly-formed third world countries and regions have aroused widespread concerns in the international community,including the United States.In the context of the Cold War,development concepts such as modernization theory centered on economic growth were closely linked to foreign policy of the United States.As for Southeast Asia,after the 1950 s,the geopolitical importance of the Mekong River in the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union gradually increased.As a weapon and means of the Cold War competition,the modernization theory was applied by the United States to decision making of the foreign policy in Southeast Asia.The United States gradually made use of development experience and economic,technological advantages of the Tennessee Valley Authority(TVA)to intervene in the development of the Mekong River,and continuously adjusted and strengthened its support for the Mekong River development plan under the influence of geopolitical dynamics.In the 1970 s,situation in the Mekong River areas changed.The strategic advantage of the Mekong River to the United States declined,and the modernization practice of the United States in the Mekong River areas was criticized,which led to the change of development concepts and fading enthusiasm for the development of the Mekong River.The development of the Mekong River once fell into halt due to its dependence on the support from the United States.In the 1990 s,the United States "returned" to the Mekong River.Under the influence of environmental politics and other factors,the United States shifted its focus to the ecological field of the Mekong River areas,especially the "Mekong River Downstream Initiative" proposed by the Obama administration,and participated in the ecological environment protection of the Mekong River areas with limited actual investment though.Considering the stage of American participation in the development of the Mekong River,development concepts and geopolitics have always been the main factors affecting American participation in the development of the Mekong River.The American participation is actually to achieve its diplomatic goals,especially a concealed means of containing its targets.