The Role of Prestigious People in Ethnic Minority Areas During the Renovation Period

Abstract

Prestigious people – such as village elders, hamlet chiefs, lineage heads, religious dignitaries, shamans, sorcerers, and officials within the political system – are exemplary individuals with good morals, possessing the ability and experience to handle community affairs, and are acknowledged, trusted, and revered by the people. Based on clarifying the Vietnamese Communist Party and State’s evolving recognition of prestigious people, this article analyses their role in ethnic minority areas across specific domains and offers suitable proposals to enhance their roles within the context of the current Renovation (Đổi Mới) period.