The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia was primarily a result of

an extreme political ideology

a religious war

a swift shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy

an ethnic conflict

Answer: The correct answer is: an extreme political ideology.

The correct answer is: an extreme political ideology.

Indeed, the movement's ideology was a very dogmatic blend of several ideologies and outlooks. They were heavily Stalinist and Maoist in their leftism; extremely xenophobic against both foreigners and national non-Khmer minorities and extremely agrarian.

With regards to their Stalinist/Maoist outlook they believed in absolute obedience to the party and its leaders, with a set of inviolable strict rules and laws and the belief that the ends justified any means.

They loathed national minorities as they saw them as a stain on their national Khmer purity and they despised foreigners because they refused to ever be colonized again, whether by Westerners or Asians.

They also considered that urban, capitalistic society was a disease and sought to eradicate it by eradicating its people.