ABSTRACT
Although there are trends within Laos suggesting a shift away from a communist-style political and economic structure, this small, landlocked nation is still a communist state. Virtually defenseless on its own behalf, Laos has for centuries been at the mercy of its neighbors, most of which have had malign intentions. Illustrative of the vulnerability of Laos to foreign intervention is its geography—it has sixteen provinces, and each borders a foreign country.
