From 1970 to 1975, a series of incidents occurred throughout Southeast Asia that led to Civil War in Cambodia. A precipitous economic crisis, the resulting class conflict, and regional instability from the war in Vietnam contributed to setting the conditions for a successful insurgency. International support to opposition groups throughout Cambodia by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) and the United States also had a significant effect on the situation. Research suggests the Lon Nol led Khmer Republic's support of US bombing, growing resentment by the rural farmers, and repressive tactics used by the Khmer Republic played a role in the proliferation of the Khmer Rouge. The sum of factors that occurred between 1970 and 1975 set a perfect storm of conditions leading to rapid growth of the Khmer Rouge and a successful insurgency that allowed the Pol Pot led Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) to seize control in Cambodia. This monograph investigates which conditions or combination thereof contributed to the proliferation of the Khmer Rouge and contributed to the successful insurgency by the CPK over the Khmer Republic.

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