Acknowledgments
This book results from my postdoctoral research at the Centre for Governance and Public Policy (CGPP) at Griffith University, Australia, which was funded by Griffith University Postdoctoral Fellowship. During this time, I was fortunate to receive guidance and support from Haig Patapan, who was then the Centre Director. Haig helped me refine my research problem at the early stage and generously offered critical feedback and suggestions following every field trip. He always encouraged me to take bold steps, deal with challenging research issues, and have faith in my project. My project benefited a great deal from the conversations that I had with colleagues at CGPP and the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI), as well as from seminars and presentations at these centers. I particularly thank John Kane for offering to read and comment on one of the book chapter’s drafts. Paula Cowan helped me organize the paperwork and finance for my field trips, and helped me edit some sections of my draft book manuscript even during her final day working at Griffith. Daniela Di Piramo helped me edit most parts of the book manuscript with much care. Julie Howe and Angela MacDonald were always around the corridor to offer timely and much needed administrative assistance and mental support. My time at the center was even more meaningful for the friendship that I have with Thu Nguyen, whose first baby was born one week after mine. The collegial and interdisciplinary research environment at CGPP, GAI, and the School of Government and International Relations was extremely critical for me as an early career researcher to learn about new and important topics beyond my research areas.
I was also fortunate to receive support from senior scholars, mentors, and friends outside Griffith, and I wish to thank them all. Kanishka Jayasuriya has been a super-kind, generous, and supportive mentor, who offered many important and useful suggestions on my work, knew all the important literature, and always encouraged me to be more ambitious in theoretical issues. Wendy Baker read and edited my writing, and her thoughts and dedication to the idea of global precarity helped me refine and broaden the scope of my research. David Engel read and offered generous feedback on my book proposal and one of the draft chapters. His insights and expertise on legal consciousness transformed my ideas and the way I approached my research problem. I learned from David the strengths and benefits of narrative writing, which has helped me create a better book. Lynette Chua read and gave feedback on my book proposal. I enjoyed many conversations with her as we both had undertaken fieldwork in Vietnam and as we met at law and society conferences. Her book on LGBT rights mobilization in Myanmar has been a great source of inspiration during the writing of this book.
Some of the research for this book has appeared in the following journal articles:
– Nguyen, T. P. (2022). Flexible and Compassionate, or Violent and Intimidating? Various Accounts of Law in Vietnam. Critical Asian Studies, 54(1), 67–85. http://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2021.1993451
– Nguyen, T. P. (2020). Coping with Precariousness: How Social Insurance Law Shapes Factory Workers’ Survival Strategies in Vietnam. Law & Society Review, 54(3), 544–70. http://doi.org/10.1111/lasr.12497
– Nguyen, T. P. (2020). Law and Precariousness in an Authoritarian State: The Case of Illegal House Construction in Vietnam. Law & Policy, 42(2), 186–203. http://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12143
– Nguyen, T. P. (2019). Legal Reform and Struggles against Precarity: The Case of State Workers’ Early Retirement in Vietnam. Pacific Affairs, 92(4), 665–84. https://doi.org/10.5509/2019924665
I thank the journal editors and anonymous reviewers for their constructive and critical comments on my journal submissions, which have greatly enhanced the analysis and writing for this book. Thanks also go to Joe Ng and Gemma Smith at Cambridge University Press for their kind and timely assistance with the review and submission process of my book manuscript, as well as two anonymous readers for their time and feedback on the manuscript.
My fieldwork in Vietnam was possible and efficient thanks to the help and hard work of my research assistant, who is amazingly well connected and enthusiastic about social justice issues. I am grateful to all the workers and residents in Hồ Chí Minh city and Đồng Nai province who were willing to share their stories with me and whose daily struggles constantly inspired me. Without them this book would not exist. My parents and brother made all my trips to Vietnam fulfilling, and went all the way to ensure that I was in good health and mood throughout my travel.
I wrote and completed this book at the same time as I became a mother of two loving daughters, Hướng Dương and Đoàn Viên, who taught me to be stronger, and more patient, organized, and calm. Finally, my writing journey would not be complete and rewarding without the love, care, trust, and tremendous support from my dear husband, Nghĩa, thanks to whom I have learnt to be more understanding and appreciative. I dedicate this book to them.
