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This article proposes a reinterpretation of the origins of the Sino-Soviet dispute through Chinese and Soviet documents, and, above all, according to the memoirs of a dozen Russian diplomats and interpreters who witnessed bilateral negotiations between 1949 and 1960. It invites neither to overvalue the weight of ideology nor to underestimate the importance of false perceptions and the human factor in the outbreak of the Sino-Soviet quarrel. Contrary to a widespread idea, dissention about the future of revolution, in particular in the Third World, appeared late and was not decisive. The Sino-Soviet dispute resulted mainly from Mao's ambitions and Khrushchev's personality on the one hand, and on the other, from disagreements about strategic issues and the defence of 'national interest'. Adapted from the source document.

The reform of Vietnamese criminal law engaged in the early 1980s has proved deceptive: it never led to the de-politicization of penal practices & of the characterization of crimes. The judicial & legal apparatus of social control was merely superimposed upon preexistent disciplinary mechanisms, instead of replacing them. Admittedly, codifying criminal law, rationalizing judiciary organization & reinforcing judicial review have put an end to the lawlessness of the revolutionary era & to "government by morality" -- up to a certain point. But the reinforcement of legality has not established the rule of law, only a "government by the law" of sorts, because it was really only intended to consolidate social control, to provide a legal frame for economic reform, & to supply the regime with a new, legal, rational source of legitimacy. Besides, criminal charges are only superficially de-politicized in the 1999 Criminal Code: the influence of socialist theories of law, revolutionary justice & customary law is still obvious in the definition of criminal responsibility, & the characterization & hierarchy of crimes. Finally, the sentencing system remains essentially the same. Based on repression, exemplary punishment & reeducation, it is a product of socialist theories of social hygiene & certain Vietnamese popular beliefs. Adapted from the source document.