ABSTRACT
In revolutionary war, as in any modern war, the economy of a country under attack is a prime target. This is particularly the case in guerrilla operations against an underdeveloped country, where the gradual disruption of the country's civilian economy may be as sure a path to victory than the destruction of the country's armed forces. To make a realistic assessment of South Viet-Nam's chances of political survival it is necessary to give at least passing consideration to the country's economic and social makeup. The division of Viet-Nam into two zones in 1954 left deep scars in the economic field as well as in the political field. The withdrawal of the French Army in April, 1956, at South Viet-Nam's request, also had a drastic effect on the economy. The life-and-death importance of rubber and rice exports in the South Vietnamese economy becomes apparent when one considers the proportion they account for in the total value of Vietnamese exports.
