River activism, policy entrepreneurship and transboundary water disputes in Asia

Yeophantong, Pichamon

doi:10.1080/02508060.2017.1279041

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The Rak Chiang Khong 's success could be understood through their role as ‘policy entrepreneurs’ who manoeuvre within the ‘inherently fragmented nature of governments’ (Yeophantong, : 167). Their concerns aligned with that of the Senate Committee on the Environment and crucially, the Thai Ministry of Defence.…”

Section: Transnational Enclosure and Its Impacts On Chiang Khongmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reclaiming community spaces in the Mekong River transboundary commons: Shifting territorialities in Chiang Khong, Thailand

Yong¹

2020

Asia Pacific Viewpoint

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In Northern Thailand's Chiang Khong district, which lies along the banks of the Mekong River and the Thai-Lao border, an community-based environmental movement under the leadership of the Rak Chiang Khong conservation group emerged in response to processes that have appropriated territories traditionally used by locals for state-led economic exploitation. The Rak Chiang Khong has put up fierce opposition to large-scale development projects such as the China-led navigation project, which planned to blast ecologically and culturally significant rapids, and hydropower dam development along the Mekong River. As a result, local-level governance arrangements of the transboundary commons in Chiang Khong have shifted to counter threats both within and beyond the borders of Thailand. Through adapting fishing arrangements, engaging in community-led research and establishing village conservation zones, overlapping forms of territorialisation have emerged in response to socio-ecological changes to the river. These new forms of territorialisation are produced by complex configurations of political, cultural, and ecological histories, politicaleconomic changes, and transboundary dynamics. These territorial strategies have been key towards reclaiming the transboundary commons of the Mekong River for riparian communities, and providing a deeper understanding of the values that drive community involvement in the transboundary environmental governance of the Mekong River.

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Section: Transnational Enclosure and Its Impacts On Chiang Khongmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reclaiming community spaces in the Mekong River transboundary commons: Shifting territorialities in Chiang Khong, Thailand

Yong¹

2020

Asia Pacific Viewpoint

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“…Civil society and environmental NGOs in both Yunnan Province and Beijing have also played an important role in promoting a proposal for the protection of the Nu River, acting as one of the forces pushing for greater access to information on dam planning and public participation (Yang and Calhoun, 2007; Matsuzawa, 2011; Zhang and Li, 2018; El‐Silimy, 2019). They have linked with prominent experts (Xufeng, 2009) and undertaken their own field‐based research to evaluate the environmental and social risks from the hydropower dam projects seeking to inform government policy makers (Lin, 2007; Lu, 2007; Han, 2013), thus bringing to light their role as policy entrepreneurs (Yeophanthong, 2017). They also formed NGO alliances such as the China Rivers Network, worked through various networks, and initiated several petition letters to raise public awareness and support (Mol, 2006; Mol and Carter, 2006; Yang and Calhoun, 2007; Yu et al ., 2019).…”

Section: From Hydropower To Conservation On the Nu (Upper Salween) Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

The Salween River as a transboundary commons: Fragmented collective action, hybrid governance and power

Suhardiman

Middleton

2020

Asia Pacific Viewpoint

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Viewing the Salween River as a transboundary commons, this paper illustrates how diverse state and nonstate actors and institutions in hybrid and multi-scaled networks have influenced water governance in general, and large dam decision-making processes in particular. Putting power relations at the centre of this analysis and drawing on the conceptual lenses of hybrid governance and critical institutionalism, we show the complexity of the fragmented processes through which decisions have been arrived at, and their implications. In the context of highly asymmetrical power relations throughout the basin, and the absence of an intergovernmental agreement to date, we argue that hybrid networks of state and non-state actors could be strategically engaged to connect parallel and fragmented decision-making landscapes with a goal of inclusively institutionalising the transboundary commons and maintaining connected local commons throughout the basin, foregrounding a concern for ecological and social justice.

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“…Media and civil society groups have been occasionally successful in halting the pollution of waterways by local enterprises. For example, together with the media and local scholars in Yunnan, these NGOs have played powerful roles in pushing for the suspension of proposed hydro projects (Guo, 2014;Magee, 2006;Mertha, 2009;Wu, 2013;Yeophantong, 2017). Chinese dam builders are crucial players, too.…”

Section: The Uniqueness Of Each Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, while water treaties, hydrological data-sharing agreements, technical exchanges and basin organizations may indicate a degree of concord at the interstate level, this does not prevent discord at other levels of governance. Apparent cooperation in the form of water agreements and treaties may amount to symbolic gestures aimed more at mollifying an angry public (Yeophantong, 2017).…”

Section: The Conflict-cooperation Spectrummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2003, the Yunnan provincial government signed an agreement with Huadian Corporation to develop hydroelectric stations on the Nu River to support local heavy industry. Immediately, NGOs, media and scholars (with support from the National Environmental Protection Bureau of China) launched a high-profile campaign against the proposed dams, which eventually led to the suspension of the proposed hydro-project (He, 2015;Magee, 2006;Mertha, 2009;Yeophantong, 2017).…”

Section: The Conflict-cooperation Spectrummentioning

confidence: 99%

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A process-based framework to examine China’s approach to transboundary water management

Zhang

2018

International Journal of Water Resources Development

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As China emerges as a regional and global power and its interest in utilizing the transboundary water resources within its borders continues to grow, a better understanding of China's policies and practices towards transboundary waters is of critical importance. Scholars have explored various approaches to the study of this subject, including the legal perspective, the socioeconomic-environmental lens, the foreign relations/neighbourhood diplomacy angle, and international relations theories. Each approach has its merits and weaknesses. On the basis of all the existing analytical studies, this article proposes a process-based framework to study China's policies towards transboundary water management.

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River activism, policy entrepreneurship and transboundary water disputes in Asia

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Reclaiming community spaces in the Mekong River transboundary commons: Shifting territorialities in Chiang Khong, Thailand

Reclaiming community spaces in the Mekong River transboundary commons: Shifting territorialities in Chiang Khong, Thailand

The Salween River as a transboundary commons: Fragmented collective action, hybrid governance and power

A process-based framework to examine China’s approach to transboundary water management

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