Dams and Development in China: The Moral Economy of Water and Power (Contemporary Asia in the World)

__Dams and Development in China__ examines the water-management decisions faced by Chinese leaders and their consequences for local communities. Focusing on the southwestern province of Yunnan—a major hub for hydropower development in China—Bryan Tilt travels from the halls of decision-making power in Beijing to Yunnan's rural villages, exploring the contrasting values of government agencies, hydropower corporations, NGOs, and local communities and their link to longstanding cultural norms about what is right, proper, and just. He also considers the strategies these groups use to influence water-resource policy, including advocacy, petitioning, and public protest. Drawing on a decade of research, Tilt illuminates whether the world's most populous nation will adopt greater transparency, increased scientific collaboration, and broader public participation as it grows economically. Examines the array of water-management decisions faced by Chinese leaders and their consequences for local communities. China is home to half of the world's large dams and adds dozens more each year. The benefits are considerable: dams deliver hydropower, provide reliable irrigation water, protect people and farmland against flooding, and produce hydroelectricity in a nation with a seeimingly insatiable appetite for energy. As hydropower responds to a larger share of energy demand, dams may also help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, welcome news in a country where air and water pollution have become dire and greenhouse gas emissions are the highest in the world. Yet the advantages of dams come at a high cost for river ecosystems and for the social and economic well-being of local people, who face displacement and farmland loss. This book examines the array of water-management decisions faced by Chinese leaders and their consequences for local communities. Focusing on the southwestern province of Yunnan--a major hub for hydropower development in China--which encompasses one of the world's most biodiverse temperate ecosystems and one of China's most ethnically and culturally rich regions, Bryan Tilt takes the reader from the halls of decision-making power in Beijing to Yunnan's rural villages. In the process, he examines the contrasting values of government agencies, hydropower corporations, NGOs, and local communities and explores how these values are linked to longstanding cultural norms about what is right, proper, and just. He also considers the various strategies these groups use to influence water-resource policy, including advocacy, petitioning, and public protest. Drawing on a decade of research, he offers his insights on whether the world's most populous nation will adopt greater transparency, increased scientific collaboration, and broader public participation as it continues to grow economically. About the Author Bryan Tilt is an associate professor of anthropology at Oregon State University. Publisher's note China is home to half of the world's large dams and adds dozens more each year. The benefits are considerable: dams deliver hydropower, provide reliable irrigation water, protect people and farmland against flooding, and produce hydroelectricity in a nation with a seeimingly insatiable appetite for energy. As hydropower responds to a larger share of energy demand, dams may also help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, welcome news in a country where air and water pollution have become dire and greenhouse gas emissions are the highest in the world. Yet the advantages of dams come at a high cost for river ecosystems and for the social and economic well-being of local people, who face displacement and farmland loss. This book examines the array of water-management decisions faced by Chinese leaders and their consequences for local communities. Focusing on the southwestern province of Yunnan - a major hub for hydropower development in China - which encompasses one of the world's most biodiverse temperate ecosystems and one of China's most ethnically and culturally rich regions, Bryan Tilt takes the reader from the halls of decision-making power in Beijing to Yunnan's rural villages. In the process, he examines the contrasting values of government agencies, hydropower corporations, NGOs, and local communities and explores how these values are linked to longstanding cultural norms about what is right, proper, and just. He also considers the various strategies these groups use to influence water-resource policy, including advocacy, petitioning, and public protest. Drawing on a decade of research, he offers his insights on whether the world's most populous nation will adopt greater transparency, increased scientific collaboration, and broader public participation as it continues to grow economically The Moral Economy Of Water And Power -- Crisis And Opportunity : Water Resources And Dams In Contemporary China -- The Lancang River : Coping With Resettlement And Agricultural Change -- The Nu River : Anticipating Development And Displacement -- Experts, Assessments, And Models : The Science Of Decision Making -- People In The Way : Resettlement In Policy And Practice -- A Broader Confluence : Conservation Initiatives And China's Global Dam Industry. Bryan Tilt. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 227-243) And Index. Contents Illustrations Preface Abbreviations 1. The Moral Economy of Water and Power 2. Crisis and Opportunity 3. The Lancang River 4. The Nu River 5. Experts, Assessments, and Models 6. People in the Way 7. A Broader Confluence Conclusion List of Chinese Terms Notes Works Cited Index