Geneva Accords

The Geneva Accords refer to a series of agreements made during the Geneva Conference in 1954, aimed at resolving conflicts in Indochina, particularly regarding Vietnam. The accords led to the temporary division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel into North Vietnam, controlled by communists, and South Vietnam, backed by the West. They aimed to establish peace and arrange for elections to unify the country. However, the promised elections never occurred, leading to further conflict, eventually culminating in the Vietnam War. The accords are significant in understanding Cold War dynamics and the international politics of Southeast Asia.