The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Doctoral Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects 2010 A critical hermeneutic approach to Hmong leadership in the Lao PDR : horizons of forgiveness and action through imagination in community development Chai Xiong Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/diss Recommended Citation Xiong, Chai, "A critical hermeneutic approach to Hmong leadership in the Lao PDR : horizons of forgiveness and action through imagination in community development" (2010). Doctoral Dissertations. 359. https://repository.usfca.edu/diss/359 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of San Francisco A CRITICAL HERMENEUTIC APPROACH TO HMONG LEADERSHIP IN THE LAO PDR: HORIZONS OF FORGIVENESS AND ACTION THROUGH IMAGINATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education Department of Leadership Studies Organization and Leadership Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Chai W. Xiong San Francisco, California May 2010 THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO Chai W. Xiong Dissertation Abstract A Critical Hermeneutic Approach to Hmong Leadership in the Lao PDR: Horizons of Forgiveness and Action through Imagination in Community Development The field of leadership study has received extensive academic exploration however little has been written on the topic of Hmong leadership. Using the approach advocated by Herda’s (1999, 2007) description of critical hermeneutic interpretative participatory inquiry and Ricoeur’s (1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1992, 2004, 2007) theories of mimesis, forgiveness and action through imagination as the conceptual framework, this research explored Hmong leadership in Lao PDR and the implications for community development. The Hmong people of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) presently live in a difficult political and economic climate that is informed by a long history of exclusion within a nation that has experienced extreme turmoil over both the recent and extended past. This situation calls for appropriate action and ethical leadership on the part of the Hmong who can develop and communicate a shared vision of hope for the future. I examined the narratives of Hmong leaders in Lao PDR, considering both their interpretation of the past and their aspirations for the future, in order to better understand the present opportunities and challenges facing the Hmong community. This examination is critical, for a dark historical past conflict continues to overshadow the livelihood of the Hmong in Lao PDR. Research conversations with Hmong leaders in Lao PDR through shared narratives created transcribed texts for interpretation. It is through the interpretation of ii texts that Hmong leaders may come to understand, in Ricoeurian terms, their prefigured world and imagine a refigured world through a reflection of a configured world. Through this research Hmong leaders have been given voice to their stories of the past, present, and future. Through this process, new understandings have emerged, opening possibilities for Hmong leadership that includes encouraging the establishment of new relationships among Hmong leaders themselves as well as their relationships with the other as they are involved in the country’s policies and community development activities. Furthermore, Hmong leaders’ horizon of forgiveness and their acts of forgiveness toward the others—Hmong and Lao nation—is one of the significant keys to the successful leadership on the part of both the Hmong and the Lao leaders. Importantly, Hmong leaders in Lao PDR may find it is paramount for Hmong to initiate and show acts of forgiveness amongst each other. The significance of this research study sheds light on the barriers Hmong leaders are facing under Lao PDR’s political climate and how they may assist the government guide the country’s future. The revealing of Hmong leaders’ stories untied the bound of the past hurt and gave the Hmong their own voice to speak of an imaginable future. Leaders in Lao PDR (Hmong, Lao and other ethnic groups) may find through discourse and a sharing of their narratives a new way of thinking about leadership that may be developed and shared among the diverse communities in Lao PDR which, in turn, may contribute to the development of new policies that are designed to benefit and meet the developmental goals of the Lao nation. Chai W. Xiong, Author Ellen A. Herda, Chairperson, Dissertation Committee iii This dissertation, written under the direction of the candidate’s dissertation committee and approved by members of the committee, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the School of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education. The content and research methodologies presented in this work represent the work of the candidate alone. Chai W. Xiong 3/31/2010 Candidate Date Dissertation Committee Dr. Ellen Herda, Ph.D 3/31/2010 Chairperson Dr. Patricia Mitchell, Ph.D 3/31/2010 Dr. Betty Taylor, Ph.D 3/31/2010 iv Acknowledgement First and foremost, I want to acknowledge my dissertation chair, my mentor and my advisor Dr. Ellen Herda. I have been blessed since I met her on a rainy orientation night in 2006. She has instilled in me her love, confidence, faith and guidance throughout the years of my coursework and research. She has inspired me to always be on the path of potentially becoming a better person. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. I also want to thank my dissertation committee members Dr. Patricia Mitchell, particularly for her Leadership Theories class, and Dr. Betty Taylor for their invaluable expertise they provided to this research. I will always be indebted to Therese Madden for her unending support and enthusiasm for my work. She is like a big sister to me. A word of love goes to my parents Va Seng Xiong and Der Her. They are the hearts, minds and souls in my life. They are my reflection. A word of gratitude goes to my brothers Bee, Kou and Tou Fue Xiong. You all are the best brothers I could ever ask for. A word of appreciation goes to my sisters Nhia, Zoua and Gee Xiong. You all have contributed so much good to our family through your work ethic. A word of joy goes to my sister-in-law Chee Vang, my little nephew Kenneth Yue Pheng Xiong and brother-in-law Xiong Cha. They are a great addition to our family. A word of honor goes to all my Hmong conversation partners: Nkia Chue Her, Wa Dang Thao, Chai Sher Xiong, Choua Mo Yang, Ka Pao Thao, Lue Yang, Dang Yang, Chia Tou Her, Shoua Lue Her, Nhia Chong Thao, Pa Choua Xiong, Tou Moua, Cheng Xue Thao and Wa Lor Xiong. Thank you so much for sharing your leadership stories. I believe your stories could help shape current and future Hmong leadership toward community development for our people. A word of indebtedness goes to my cousin Choua Long Her and his wife Vivian Xai who graciously gave me the key to their residence during my study at USF. A word of respect goes to my USF O&L classmates. I look forward to the day we all can help each other again in the distance future. Last but not least, a word of admiration and appreciation goes to my friends Juu Moua and Jay Thao who actively and diligently helped to identify and coordinate Hmong leaders in Lao PDR to take part in my research. v TABLE OF CONTENTS UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO i DISSERTATION ABSTRACT ii COMMITTEE SIGNATURE PAGE iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi CHAPTER ONE: THE RESEARCH FOCUS Introduction 1 Statement of Issue 3 Background of the Research Issue 6 Educational Significance 7 Summary 8 CHAPTER TWO: BACKGROUND OF LAO PDR AND THE HMONG Introduction 10 A Glimpse at Lao PDR 10 Brief History 11 The People of Laos 13 Modern Lao PDR Political and Leadership Structure 14 Contemporary Hmong Leadership in Lao PDR 17 The Hmong in Lao PDR 18 Education 19 Economy 21 Social Organization 23 Family and Clan 24 Religion 24 The Hmong and the U.S CIA Secret Wars in Laos 25 Hmong Resistance in the Remotes Areas and Jungles of Lao PDR 28 Hmong Resistance’s Stories 29 An Imaginative Story 33 Summary 34 CHAPTER THREE: REVIEW OF LITERATURE Introduction 35 Brief Overview of Leadership Studies 35 Lao and Hmong Leadership Studies 39 Lao PDR Historical Leaders 42 Lao PDR and United States Diplomatic Relations 47 The Myth of Hmong King Chi You 48 Chronological: Hmong Leadership in Laos 49 vi Under the French 50 Under the American 53 Under the Lao PDR 55 In the United States of America 56 Summary 60 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH PROCESS Introduction 61 Theoretical Framework 61 Language 62 Narrativity 64 Summary 65 Research Categories 66 Introduction 66 Category One: Mimesis 66 Category Two: Forgiveness 68 Category Three: Action Through Imagination 69 Entrée to the Research Sites 70 Selected Conversation Participants 71 Hmong Language Translation 78 Research Categories and Questions 79 Data Collection: Conversations 80 Data Collection: Personal Journal 80 Research Timeframe 81 Data Analysis 82 Pilot Study 84 Introduction 84 Conversation Partner 84 Synthesis of