Democratic Kampuchea

Democratic Kampuchea refers to the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot. The government aimed to transform the country into a communist agrarian society, eradicating urban life and intellectual thought. This radical ideology led to mass atrocities, including forced labor, starvation, and executions, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people. The regime collapsed in 1979 when Vietnam invaded Cambodia. The period remains a dark chapter in Cambodian history, highlighting the dangers of extreme totalitarian ideologies and the consequences of societal upheaval.