Routledge Resettlement Policy in Large Development Projects (Routledge Studies in Development, Displacement and Resettlement)

Hydropower generation by construction of large dams attracts considerable attention as a feasible renewable energy source to meet the power demand in Asian cities. However, large development projects cause involuntary resettlement. Of the world’s forty to eighty million resettlers, many resettlers have been unable to rebuild their livelihood after relocation and have become impoverished. This book uniquely explores the long-term impacts of displacement and resettlement. It shows that long-term post-project evaluation is necessary to assess the rehabilitation and livelihood reconstruction of resettlers after relocation. It focuses on large dam projects in a number of Asian countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, which are often ignored in Displacement studies in favour of China or India. Drawing on a wealth of empirical data over ten years, it presents crucial factors for successful resettlement by analysing lessons learned. The range of countries allow for a diverse and complex set of factors and outcomes to be analysed. Many of the factors for successful resettlement recur despite the cases being different in implementation period and location. The book presents highly original findings gathered by local researchers in the field directly talking to resettlers who were relocated more than a decade ago. This original book is a unique resource for researchers and postgraduate students of development studies, environment, geography, sociology and anthropology. It also makes policy recommendations for future resettlement programs that are of great value to development policy makers, planners, water resources engineers and civil society protest groups. Review "The overview and detailed insights provided in this book make it very important, timely and informative. The examples are wide ranging and the analysis critical. Professionals responsible for the technical and environmental outcomes of dam construction will find the material up to date and relevant. Those needing to know about social and livelihood impacts of large infrastructures will be especially assisted by the analysis." – Professor Tony Allan, King’s College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies London "Dams are an important temporary solution to the management of water resources and the generation of energy. Perhaps their highest initial cost is the cost of resettlement. This carefully researched volume examines that cost in detail. It is essential reading for policymakers involved in decisions about new dam construction." – Michael Menaker, PhD, Commonwealth Professor, University of Virginia. About the Author Ryo Fujikura is Professor at the Faculty of Humanity and Environment, Hosei University, Japan. Mikiyasu Nakayama is Professor at the Department of International Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Japan.