"Learning it the Hard Way": Social safeguards norms in Chinese-led dam projects in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kirchherr, Julian; Matthews, Nathanial; Charles, Katrina J.; Walton, Matthew J.
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 102(2017)
• Page Start: 529
• Page End: 539
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Myanmar -- Laos -- Cambodia -- Chinese dam developers -- Large dams -- Social safeguards; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.12.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: Chinese dam developers claim to construct at least every second dam worldwide. However, scholarly literature comprehensively investigating the social safeguard norms in these projects is rare. This paper analyses social safeguard norms in Chinese-led dam projects in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, hotspots of Chinese-led dam construction. We find that social safeguard norms adopted have significantly changed in the past 15 years. While Chinese dam developers claimed to adopt standards of the host countries upon the launch of China's Going Out Policy in 2001, with occasional adoption of more demanding Chinese standards, they did not adopt international norms. In recent years, however, they increasingly take into account international norms. We argue that the root cause for this change is social mobilization, with the suspension of the Myitsone Dam in 2011 as a particular game changer. Enhanced social safeguard legislation in host countries and China, stricter rules of Chinese funders and cooperation of Chinese dam developers with international players have also facilitated this change. Highlights: Very first regional case study on social safeguard norms in Chinese-led dam projects in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Found that Chinese dam developers increasingly take into account international social safeguards norms. Root cause is social mobilization, with the suspension of the Myitsone Dam in 2011 as a particular game changer.