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Spatial politics and local alliances shaping Nepal hydropower

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Title Spatial politics and local alliances shaping Nepal hydropower
 
Creator Suhardiman, Diana
Karki, Emma
 
Subject hydropower
development projects
decision making
political aspects
local communities
alliances
private sector
governing bodies
strategies
electricity
dams
downstream
upstream
villages
land acquisitions
compensation
social aspects
case studies
 
Description This paper investigates the spatial dimension of power relations and the shaping of local alliances through a hydropower development project in Nepal. It provides a grass-roots illustration on the role of space in shaping and reshaping power relations, and how it manifests in the formation of local strategic alliances. Taking the Upper Karnali hydropower project as a case study, the paper highlights: 1) the role of private sector actor as an ad-hoc decision maker in hydropower development in the country; 2) how hydropower development is perceived by those who will be most affected; and 3) how the two shape the localized dynamics in hydropower decision making, while also sheds light on some of the key gaps in hydropower decision-making landscape and processes. Viewing space as a process and a product of socio-political interface, it shows how local communities living along the Karnali River view the planned hydropower project differently, how these views are rooted in their relationship with the hydropower company, and how such relationship is predetermined by local communities’ bargaining power in relation to the proximity of their respective villages to the planned hydropower dam site, and vice versa. Unpacking the power relations shaping and reshaping spatial politics in hydropower decision making, it presents the concept of spatial alliances as a theoretical underpinning to unpack the question on why and how power relations emerge, are sustained and reproduced.
 
Date 2019-10
2019-08-06T04:08:08Z
2019-08-06T04:08:08Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Suhardiman, Diana; Karki, Emma. 2019. Spatial politics and local alliances shaping Nepal hydropower. World Development, 122:525-536. (Online first) doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.06.022
0305-750X
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102447
http://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049234.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.06.022
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyrighted; Non-commercial use only
Limited Access
 
Format p. 525-536
 
Publisher Elsevier BV
 
Source World Development