IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i5p1682-d757305.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Politicization of the Hydropower Dams in the Lancang-Mekong Basin: A Review of Contemporary Environmental Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Grünwald

    (Asian International Rivers Center, Institute of International River and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

  • Wenling Wang

    (Asian International Rivers Center, Institute of International River and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

  • Yan Feng

    (Asian International Rivers Center, Institute of International River and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
    Yunnan Key Lab of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

Abstract

To date, hydropower dams raise numerous interpretations about their impact on the Lancang-Mekong River. While most research studies analyze the negative aspects of hydropower development on people’s livelihoods and local environments, the hydropower sector was historically one of the most iconic economic segments facilitating transboundary water cooperation for decades. By using the constructive discourse analysis and critical political ecology approach, the presented text (1) outlines the current environmental narratives over the Lancang-Mekong hydropower development and (2) explores the politicization of the Chinese mainstream dams. The data were collected upon the multi-level content analysis of relevant sources and double-checked with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and Conflict Database (LMCCD) monitoring over 4000 water-related events among six riparian countries between 1990 and 2021. Our data show that (i) there is a stark contrast in positive and negative narratives over the rapid hydropower development, (ii) the impact of mainstream dams on the river is more often discussed than that of tributary dams, (iii) implications of the hydropower dams are often interpreted upon the non-traditional research inputs rather than widely accepted studies, and (iv) developing the contradictory arguments through social and public media contributes to greater polarization of the multi-stakeholders’ viewpoints in the accountable research dialogue.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Grünwald & Wenling Wang & Yan Feng, 2022. "Politicization of the Hydropower Dams in the Lancang-Mekong Basin: A Review of Contemporary Environmental Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1682-:d:757305
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/5/1682/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/5/1682/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeroen Warner & Neda Zawahri, 2012. "Hegemony and asymmetry: multiple-chessboard games on transboundary rivers," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 215-229, September.
    2. Richard Grünwald & Yan Feng & Wenling Wang, 2020. "Reconceptualization of the Transboundary Water Interaction Nexus (TWINS): approaches, opportunities and challenges," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(5), pages 458-478, July.
    3. Ellen Bruzelius Backer, 2007. "The Mekong River Commission: Does It Work, and How Does the Mekong Basin’s Geography Influence Its Effectiveness?," Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 26(4), pages 32-56.
    4. Thi Thu Em Vo & Hyeyoung Ko & Junho Huh & Namje Park, 2021. "Overview of Possibilities of Solar Floating Photovoltaic Systems in the OffShore Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-30, October.
    5. Han Phoumin & Sopheak Meas & Hatda Pich An, 2021. "Understanding Quality Energy-Related Infrastructure Development in the Mekong Subregion: Key Drivers and Policy Implications," Economics, Law, and Institutions in Asia Pacific, in: Han Phoumin & Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary & Fukunari Kimura & Jun Arima (ed.), Energy Sustainability and Climate Change in ASEAN, chapter 0, pages 303-330, Springer.
    6. Mayeda, A.M. & Boyd, A.D., 2020. "Factors influencing public perceptions of hydropower projects: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. Tran, Dung Duc & van Halsema, Gerardo & Hellegers, Petra J.G.J. & Hoang, Long Phi & Ludwig, Fulco, 2019. "Long-term sustainability of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta in question: An economic assessment of water management alternatives," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Amy Quark, 2012. "Scientized politics and global governance in the cotton trade: Evaluating divergent theories of scientization," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(5), pages 895-917.
    9. Mark Zeitoun & Ana Elisa Cascão & Jeroen Warner & Naho Mirumachi & Nathanial Matthews & Filippo Menga & Rebecca Farnum, 2017. "Transboundary water interaction III: contest and compliance," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 271-294, April.
    10. Siciliano, Giuseppina & Urban, Frauke & Kim, Sour & Dara Lonn, Pich, 2015. "Hydropower, social priorities and the rural–urban development divide: The case of large dams in Cambodia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 273-285.
    11. Kais Siala & Afm Kamal Chowdhury & Thanh Duc Dang & Stefano Galelli, 2021. "Solar energy and regional coordination as a feasible alternative to large hydropower in Southeast Asia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    12. Santalco, Aldo, 2012. "How and when China will exceed its renewable energy deployment targets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 652-661.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Naho Mirumachi & Margot Hurlbert, 2022. "Reflecting on twenty years of international agreements concerning water governance: insights and key learning," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 317-332, June.
    2. Jacob D. Petersen-Perlman & Itay Fischhendler, 2018. "The weakness of the strong: re-examining power in transboundary water dynamics," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 275-294, April.
    3. Yuichiro Yoshida & Han Soo Lee & Bui Huy Trung & Hoang-Dung Tran & Mahrjan Keshlav Lall & Kifayatullah Kakar & Tran Dang Xuan, 2020. "Impacts of Mainstream Hydropower Dams on Fisheries and Agriculture in Lower Mekong Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Joyeeta Gupta & Aarti Gupta & Courtney Vegelin, 2022. "Equity, justice and the SDGs: lessons learnt from two decades of INEA scholarship," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 393-409, June.
    5. Koh, Rachel & Kern, Jordan & Galelli, Stefano, 2022. "Hard-coupling water and power system models increases the complementarity of renewable energy sources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    6. William Philip Wall & Bilal Khalid & Mariusz Urbański & Michal Kot, 2021. "Factors Influencing Consumer’s Adoption of Renewable Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Andreas N. Angelakis & Mohammad Valipour & Abdelkader T. Ahmed & Vasileios Tzanakakis & Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Jens Krasilnikoff & Renato Drusiani & Larry Mays & Fatma El Gohary & Demetris Kout, 2021. "Water Conflicts: From Ancient to Modern Times and in the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-31, April.
    8. Huiru Zhao & Sen Guo & Hongze Li, 2015. "Economic Impact Assessment of Wind Power Integration: A Quasi-Public Goods Property Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-26, August.
    9. Xintao Li & Dong Feng & Jian Li & Zaisheng Zhang, 2019. "Research on the Spatial Network Characteristics and Synergetic Abatement Effect of the Carbon Emissions in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-15, March.
    10. Darwisheh,Housam, 2024. "Geopolitics of Transboundary Water Relations in the Eastern Nile Basin," IDE Discussion Papers 921, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    11. Tobias Renner & Sander Meijerink & Pieter Zaag & Toine Smits, 2021. "Assessment framework of actor strategies in international river basin management, the case of Deltarhine," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 255-283, June.
    12. Zulfiya Suleimenova, 2020. "Water security in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 27(1), pages 75-93, June.
    13. Ian M. Trotter & Torjus F. Bolkesj{o} & Eirik O. J{aa}stad & Jon Gustav Kirkerud, 2021. "Increased Electrification of Heating and Weather Risk in the Nordic Power System," Papers 2112.02893, arXiv.org.
    14. Zeng, Fanxu & Bi, Cheng & Sree, Dharma & Huang, Guoxing & Zhang, Ningchuan & Law, Adrian Wing-Keung, 2023. "An Adaptive Barrier-Mooring System for Coastal Floating Solar Farms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    15. Schmitt, Rafael Jan Pablo & Rosa, Lorenzo, 2024. "Dams for hydropower and irrigation: Trends, challenges, and alternatives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    16. Taedong Lee & Wooyeal Paik, 2020. "Asymmetric barriers in atmospheric politics of transboundary air pollution: a case of particulate matter (PM) cooperation between China and South Korea," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 123-140, March.
    17. Gyanwali, Khem & Komiyama, Ryoichi & Fujii, Yasumasa, 2020. "Representing hydropower in the dynamic power sector model and assessing clean energy deployment in the power generation mix of Nepal," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    18. Tien D. N. Ho & Takuji W. Tsusaka & John K. M. Kuwornu & Avishek Datta & Loc T. Nguyen, 2022. "Do rice varieties matter? Climate change adaptation and livelihood diversification among rural smallholder households in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 1-33, January.
    19. Henrique Oliveira & Víctor Moutinho, 2021. "Renewable Energy, Economic Growth and Economic Development Nexus: A Bibliometric Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-28, July.
    20. Qi, Tianyu & Zhang, Xiliang & Karplus, Valerie J., 2014. "The energy and CO2 emissions impact of renewable energy development in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 60-69.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1682-:d:757305. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.