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The majority of Cambodian Americans came to the United States as refugees. Between 1975 and 2002, more than 145,000 Cambodian refugees relocated, with more than two-thirds arriving between 1980 and 1985, following the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. The physical and psychological horrors of life under the Khmer Rouge can never be adequately conveyed. To say that Cambodians come from a political culture in which citizens do not confront their leaders is an understatement, as those who dared question those in power (the angkar, or "organization") were often tortured or executed on the spot. Historians estimate that up to two million Cambodians died of disease, execution, and starvation during the Khmer Rouge control of 1975-1979, and thousands more perished during the subsequent instability of life both in refugee camps and in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Many of those who survived have known little in their lives other than chaos and fear, and many suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and related problems. Few Cambodian Americans trust that they now live in a society which respects civil rights, freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and the rule of law.

Cambodian Americans who are Khmer Rouge survivors may continue to function in "survival mode," in which they seek primarily to fulfill immediate needs-such as food and physical safety-and view longer-term planning (as often addressed in politics) as less imperative. Finally, the very real possibility of forced repatriation to Cambodia (see Cambodian deportation, this volume) makes Cambodian Americans hesitant to speak out about leaders or issues, fearing that doing so might affect them negatively were they to return to live in Cambodia.

Of the more than 200,000 Cambodian Americans, only approximately 70,000 were born in the United States. Relatedly, the majority of Cambodian Americans speak English as a second language, and still others not at all. Neighborhood discussions and school events are often conducted only in English, with English-language materials and related documents. More than 30 percent of Cambodian households report that they are "linguistically isolated"-that is, in these households, no one over 14 years old speaks English only, or speaks a non-English language but also English "very well." Non-English speaking individuals often feel they have little or no political clout. Even those Cambodian Americans who speak English well, however, often do not feel political will, or the desire to become involved in politics. They may be unaware of their rights, largely because they have not been educated or informed about them. Among Cambodian Americans aged 25 and over, 26.2 percent reported they had no formal schooling, with only 47.1 percent reporting a high school education or higher. Many do not understand the complexities of American institutions (such as the legal system), and feel helpless to defend themselves against injustice.

Respect for authority, humility, politeness, patience, gentility, and modesty are all part of ideal, exemplary Cambodian identity, particularly for women, who make up the majority of household heads in the United States. Many of the attributes believed to be necessary to be politically active--e.g., self-assurance and assertiveness--seem to be anathema to the ideal Cambodian qualities. The term "politics" itself carries a negative connotation to Cambodian Americans, too, associated with graft and corruption of dishonest officials.

One of the greatest barriers to political empowerment and participation in the Cambodian American community is that the median age of Cambodian Americans is very young: 19.4 years old in 1990, and 22.8 in 2000 (compared to 35.4 years for the U.S. in general, and 31.4 years for Asians overall). In 2000, 18.9 percent of Cambodian Americans were under the age of 10, with 27.1 percent between the ages of 10 and 19. Thus a significant percentage of the Cambodian American community cannot vote or take part in other political proceedings. Youths may lack active adult role models who are involved in the decision-making process, voting or crafting policies and programs. Those who do have role models are often confronted with generational discrepancies regarding both goals and the means to reach these goals. Older leaders abide by age and pre-immigration class seniority in communicating and decision-making, whereas younger leaders look to their present accomplishments and skills as reference points, in a more Americanized, merit-based manner. Because of the youth of the community, however, the later generations of Cambodian Americans carry much of the responsibility for articulating their both their needs and their assets.

If you use material from this article, please cite it as you would any published source.
Suggested citation:
Su, Christine. (February 2006). Cambodian-Americans and Political Empowerment. Cambodian Community of Hawaii website. Retrieved [date accessed] from <http://hawaii.cambodiaworldwide.com/polempower2.html>.

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