What led to genocide in Cambodia?

Answer 1

The genocide in Cambodia, perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, was driven by a radical communist ideology that sought to transform the country into an agrarian utopia. Led by Pol Pot, the regime targeted perceived enemies, including intellectuals, professionals, and ethnic minorities, as part of its efforts to eliminate class distinctions and enforce social uniformity. The combination of extreme political repression, forced labor, and mass executions resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people, or about a quarter of the population. The genocide was facilitated by the chaos of the Cambodian Civil War and the U.S. bombing campaigns, which destabilized the nation and allowed the Khmer Rouge to gain power.