Khmer Rouge's "Grand Plan" for Cambodia (Democratic Kampuchea)

The Khmer Rouge (1975–1979) sought to create a pure, self-sufficient, classless agrarian utopia through radical, violent transformation:

1. Year Zero: Abolish money, markets, private property, religion, education, family names, foreign influence. Reset history.
2. Forced Evacuation: Empty cities (Phnom Penh: 2.5M → countryside in days). "New people" (urbanites) enslaved; "base people" (rural) privileged.
3. Collectivization: Cooperatives (krom) — communal labor, eating, living. No private plots. Impossible rice quotas (3 tons/ha).
4. Elimination of "Enemies": Intellectuals (glasses = death), professionals, monks, ethnic minorities (Cham, Vietnamese, Chinese), former officials. S-21 (Tuol Sleng): 17,000 tortured/executed.
5. Autarky & Militarization: Local industry (fertilizer, weapons, textiles) via forced labor. No imports. Border wars (Vietnam, Thailand).
6. Ideological Purity: Constant purges (party cadres). "Better to kill an innocent than let an enemy live."

Result

1.7–2.2 million deaths (25% of population): execution, starvation, disease, overwork. Regime fell to Vietnamese invasion (Jan 1979). Leaders tried (ECCC): Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan convicted (2018). Pol Pot died 1998.