Projectland: Life in a Lao Socialist Model Village

262 Pages·2021·10.988 MB·English

by  Holly High

Projectland
New Southeast Asia
Politics, Meaning, and Memory
Justin McDaniel and Nancy J. Smith-Hefner
Series Editors
Projectland
Life in a Lao Socialist Model Village
Holly High
University of Hawai‘i Press
Honolulu
© 2021 University of Hawai‘i Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
26 25 24 23 22 21 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: High, Holly, author.
Title: Projectland : life in a Lao socialist model village / Holly High.
Other titles: New Southeast Asia.
Description: Honolulu : University of Hawai‘i Press, 2021. | Series: New
Southeast Asia: politics, meaning, and memory | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021012104 | ISBN 9780824886653 (cloth) | ISBN
9780824888671 (pdf) | ISBN 9780824888732 (epub) | ISBN 9780824888749
(kindle edition)
Subjects: LCSH: Socialism and culture—Laos—New Kandon. | Katu (Southeast
Asian people)—Laos—Kandon. | Katu (Southeast Asian people)—Laos—New
Kandon. | New Kandon (Laos)—Politics and government.
Classification: LCC HX400.4.K38 H54 2021 | DDC 306.209594—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021012104
Cover art: Detail of Wiphat’s medals.
University of Hawai‘i Press books are printed on acid- free paper and
meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Council on
Library Resources.
For Gadsby, Evander, and Ed

Revolution, then, is a project, and it is important to say whose
project it is.
—Michael Walzer

Contents
Ack now ledg ments xi
Note on Transcription and Personal Names xv
Abbreviations xix
Maps xxi
1. Introduction to Projectland 1
2. Who Are the Katu? 27
3. Welcome to Kandon, Culture Village 54
4. Open Defecation Free and Model Healthy Village 73
5. “Are We United?” 95
6. “Women’s Preserve”: Weaving and Women’s Value 121
7. “My Children Have Eaten Only Tears”: Family Dramas in
Kandon 142
8. “You Will Reach the Katu” 165
9. Conclusion: The Problem with Projects 191
Notes 203
Works Cited 217
Index 231