Laos has the smallest population, the weakest military, and despite rapid economic growth in recent years, one of the lowest levels of per capita income in mainland Southeast Asia. Yet a glance at the map reveals its strategic location, between China and Cambodia and between Thailand and Vietnam. As Laos was formerly a crossroads for trade routes, the socialist government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic today seeks to transform the country into a prosperous crossroads at the heart of this rapidly developing region. This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Laos, Fourth Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 1.000 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country's politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Laos.