Wikipedia:WikiProject Library of Congress Country Studies/Laos

FINISHED COMPILING SOURCES

Country study
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/latoc.html

intro
* Laos * Foreword * Acknowledgments * Preface * Table A. Chronology of Important Events * Country Profile o Geography o Society o Economy o Transportation and Communications o Government and Politics o National Security * Introduction

Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Arthur J. Dommen)
o Early History + Power Centers in the Middle Mekong Valley + Mongol Influence + The Founding of Lan Xang + The Division of Lan Xang o Developments in the 19th Century + The Hold of Siam + The Eviction of Siam + Laos Under the French o World War II and After + The French Protectorate and Direct Administration + Nationalist Stirrings + Events in 1945 + The Lao Issara Government + A Confusing Situation o The Coming of Independence + The Kingdom of Laos + The Pathet Lao o Toward Neutrality: The First Coalition + Initial Difficulties + Renewed Negotiations + A Fragile Unity + The 1958 Elections + North Vietnamese Invasion + The Army Enters Politics o The Attempt to Restore Neutrality + A Deepening Split + The Battle of Vientiane + The Widening War o International Pressure and the Advent of the Second Coalition + Expansion of Pathet Lao Influence + Protracted Diplomacy + Renewed Strains + The "Secret War" o The Third Coalition and the Lao People's Democratic Republic + The Vientiane Agreement + The Origins of the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Question + Formation of the Third Coalition + The Communist Seizure of Power + Establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic + "Seminar Camps" and the Death of King Savang Vatthana + Postwar Relations with the United States + Developments in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment (W. Randall Ireson)
o The Physical Environment + Topography + Climate + Transportation Routes + Natural Resources o Population + Ethnic Diversity + The Refugee Population + Rural-Urban Distribution o Rural Life in Laotian society o Urban Society in Laotian society o Religion + Buddhism + Animism in Animism in Laos o Education in Education in Laos o Health and Welfare + Public Health in Health in Laos + Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Health in Laos + Health Infrastructure in Health in Laos + Social Welfare o Future Trends

Chapter 3 - The Economy (Susannah Hopkins)
o Agriculture and Forestry + Agriculture in the Economic System + Crops and Farming Systems # Rice # Other Crops # Livestock + Fishing in Fishing in Laos + Forestry + Agricultural Policy + Environmental Problems and Policy o Industry and Services + Industrial Output and Employment # Manufacturing # Energy # Mining # Construction + Services # Wholesale and Retail Trade # Tourism + Industrial Policy o Transportation and Telecommunications + Roads + Motor Vehicles + Inland Waterways + Civil Aviation + Telecommunications o Public Finance + The Budget Deficit + Government Revenue + Government Expenditure + Policy o The Financial Sector + The Banking System + Money and Prices + Money Supply and Inflation o The Balance of Payments + The Foreign Exchange Rate + Foreign Trade # Exports # Imports # Trade Partners # Trade Balance # Trade Policy # Transit + Direct Foreign Investment # Policy # Investment Projects + Foreign Aid + External Debt o Prospects for Growth

Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (MacAlister Brown and Joseph J. Zasloff)
o The Lao People's Revolutionary Party + Origins of the Party + Party Structure + Semisecrecy of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party + Ideology of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party + Leadership # Internal Stability and External Influences # Key Leaders o The Constitution in Constitution of Laos o Government Structure + Bureaucratic Culture + Executive + Legislature + Judiciary o Challenges to the Regime + Human Rights + Insurgents + Refugees + Political Opposition o Mass Media o Foreign Policy + Basic Goals + Bureaucratic Complications + Economic Factors + Bilateral Relations # Relations with Vietnam in Laos–Vietnam relations # Relations with Thailand in Laos–Thailand relations # Relations with China in People's Republic of China–Laos relations # Relations with the Soviet Union # Relations with the United States # Capitalist Donor States # Multilateral Donors

Chapter 5 - National Security (Nicholas C. Auclair)
o The Armed Forces + Historical Background in Military history of Laos + Structure and Administration of the Armed Forces # Lao People's Army # Lao People's Air Force # Lao People's Navy # Other Military Units + Manpower and Conditions of Service + The Defense Budget o Threats to National Security + Internal Threats and Resistance Movements # The Ethnic Liberation Organization of Laos # The Hmong + Foreign Military Presence + The Confrontational Relationship with Thailand + Relations with the United States o National Police and Paramilitary Forces o The Criminal Justice System in Legal system of Laos o Narcotics and Counternarcotics Issues

end stuff
* Appendix. Tables * Bibliography * Glossary

Background note

 * http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2770.htm

Religious freedom

 * http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90142.htm

Human rights

 * http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100526.htm

Minerals industry

 * http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/myb3-2007-la.pdf

Travel report

 * http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_946.html

Crime and safety report

 * https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=79828

HIV/AIDS

 * http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/Countries/ane/laos.html in HIV/AIDS in Laos