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Between Interests and Worldviews: The Narrow Path of the Mekong River Commission

Author

Listed:
  • Diana Suhardiman

    (International Water Management Institute, South East Asia Regional Office, PO Box 4199, Vientiane, Lao PDR)

  • Mark Giordano

    (International Water Management Institute, PO Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

  • François Molle

    (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France; and International Water Management Institute, PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria)

Abstract

Hydropower development is occurring at a rapid, though controversial, pace in the Mekong. We highlight the role of scientific assessment in shaping the Mekong hydropower debate, taking the strategic environmental assessment of the twelve planned mainstream dams as a case study. While environmental impact assessments are designed as science-based decision-making tools, they have often been criticized in practice as a political means to justify already made development decisions. In this case we demonstrate how the Mekong River Commission, operating in a constrained political environment, has instead used environmental impact assessment as a way of providing political space and opening the discussion on dams to a wider public. The main argument of this paper is that scientific assessment can be politically maneuvered to shape governance alliances at both national and transboundary levels, and to a certain extent democratize decision-making processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Suhardiman & Mark Giordano & François Molle, 2015. "Between Interests and Worldviews: The Narrow Path of the Mekong River Commission," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 33(1), pages 199-217, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:33:y:2015:i:1:p:199-217
    DOI: 10.1068/c11191
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Måns Nilsson & Holger Dalkmann, 2001. "Decision Making And Strategic Environmental Assessment," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 3(03), pages 305-327.
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