Story: Cold War

The domino theory

The domino theory

The domino theory suggested that as one South-East Asian country fell to communism then its neighbours would follow, like toppling dominoes. This graphic highlights the sequence – beginning in Laos on the border of communist China – that some pundits believed the process might follow.

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How to cite this page:

Gerald Hensley, 'Cold War - South-East Asia, 1955 to 1975', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/32701/the-domino-theory (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Gerald Hensley, published 20 Jun 2012