Date of Award
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Hicks, Barbara
Keywords
China, Development-Induced Displacement, Dams
Area of Concentration
International and Area Studies
Abstract
China has been making world headlines for its large projects; the Three Gorges Dam project is the one that most frequently springs to mind. This thesis examines the consequences of development-induced displacement and the environmental effects of large infrastructure projects in China over time, beginning with dams in the 1950s. Changes in the decision making process and planning and implementation of the projects over time were examined in regards to how they affected project outcomes. A stark improvement was found over time, but development projects in China remain controversial because of their large scale. The planning process improved over time as the government incorporated more flexibility and openness to correcting mistakes while projects were in process. The projects that fared the best were those that had international funding and were held to international standards. Recent projects funded exclusively by the government have not been held to such standards and have fallen more into the pattern of past mistakes than the projects led by international organizations. Despite the oscillations in project implementation, the fact that the projects funded by the international community fare so well in China and the country's own learning process signal the possibility of more flexibility in the decision making and planning processes, which will hopefully lead to more effective handling of human displacement and environmental impacts in future projects.
Recommended Citation
Benjamin, Chelsea, "Development-Induced Displacement and the Environmental Consequences of Large Infrastructure Projects in China" (2012). Theses & ETDs. 4555.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4555
Rights
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