Ties that Bind: Cultural Identity, Class, and Law in Vietnam's Labor Resistance. By Tran Ngoc Angie. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell Southeast Asia Program Publications, 2013. 354 pp. 51.95(cloth);51.95 (cloth); 51.95(cloth);23.95 (paper) (original) (raw)

2014, The Journal of Asian Studies

AI-generated Abstract

This book, "Ties that Bind: Cultural Identity, Class, and Law in Vietnam's Labor Resistance," explores the complexities of worker identity and protests in Vietnam from colonial times to the present. The author, Angie Ngoc Tran, argues that while factors like gender, religion, and skill influence worker unity, the essence of labor protests can be classified into two types: Marx-type, which focuses on class struggle, and Polanyi-type, which encompasses broader issues of dignity and justice. Through extensive research and primary sources, including worker interviews, the book provides an in-depth look at the history of labor resistance in Vietnam, highlighting how class solidarity emerges from the struggles rather than serving as a precondition, thereby challenging conventional narratives surrounding identity politics.