There is an unsteady peace in Vietnam--with 25,000 Vietnamese killed on both sides since the "so-called" truce began, Gros questions the fragility of a stable relationship among North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He considers whether democracy is feasible or even practical in many Asian countries, including both Koreas, both Vietnams, China, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Gros uses the declaration of martial law in the Philippines under President Marcos as a positive example of alternative governmental strategies.