Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.

In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham explore the life and legacy of Phạm Quỳnh (1892-1945), a prominent intellectual, writer, and statesman in modern Vietnamese history. A man of deep convictions and complex loyalties, Phạm Quỳnh’s contributions to Vietnam’s cultural and political evolution remain a topic of both admiration and debate.

A passionate advocate for Vietnamese literature and a modernist thinker, Phạm Quỳnh played a key role in promoting the use of the Vietnamese script (quốc ngữ) and championing the preservation of Vietnamese culture during a time of intense colonial influence. As editor of Nam Phong magazine, his writings sought to harmonize Vietnamese traditions with modernity, making him a leading voice in shaping national identity during the French colonial period.

However, Phạm Quỳnh’s legacy is not without controversy. As a high-ranking official in the French colonial administration, he faced criticism from Vietnamese revolutionaries who viewed his collaboration with the colonial regime as compromising the fight for independence. Despite this, his intellectual contributions and vision for a modern Vietnam have left an indelible mark on the nation’s history.

Join us as we examine the nuances of Phạm Quỳnh’s life, from his efforts to elevate Vietnamese cultural pride to the political choices that ultimately led to his tragic fate. We explore how his vision for a culturally awakened Vietnam remains relevant today and why his legacy continues to spark debate among historians, intellectuals, and activists.

Whether you see Phạm Quỳnh as a misunderstood patriot, a pragmatic modernist, or a symbol of cultural resilience, this episode provides a thought-provoking perspective on a man whose ideas and actions reflect the complexities of Vietnam’s colonial past and its quest for self-determination.

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Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts.

He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024).

Kevindoanpham.com

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

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