DMagee UBC IAR ElectricPower

New Energy Geographies: Powershed Politics and Hydropower Decision Making in Yunnan, China: 

New Energy Geographies: Powershed Politics and Hydropower Decision Making in Yunnan, China Reflection on methods and analysis Darrin Magee dmagee@u.washington.edu

Presentation Outline: 

Presentation Outline Overview of Study Objectives, Theoretical Framework Methodological Lessons Finding a host danwei Archives, interviews, and participant observation Analytical Lessons Importance of “triangulating” findings Summary of findings Challenges of writing on sensitive topics Questions (and maybe answers)

Study Objectives: 

Study Objectives Empirical: Provide updated information on energy infrastructure construction in Yunnan and on decision-making processes Methodological: Further extend political ecology inquiry to the study of China and demonstrate the utility of such an approach for understanding resource development Theoretical: Contribute to discourses on “China’s dams,” center-local and inter-provincial relations, civil society, and scale politics in China

Theoretical Framework: Political Ecology: 

Theoretical Framework: Political Ecology Political economic factors of land degradation and environmental change Progressive contextualization, Chains of explanation Case studies; critique of global capitalism; multi-scalar analysis; complexity and context Mostly Latin America and Africa; very little China Multi-scalar approach; attention to scale as object of inquiry rather than simply an analytical framework Attention to marginality (political, economic, cultural) A method or perspective that demands attention to context (historical, social, ecological), and complexity (non-linearity, non-equilibrium, uncertainty)

Study Area: 

Study Area Yunnan Guangdong

Methodology: 

Methodology The mountains stand tall and upright, the rivers gallop past, and dam after dam rises from the earth. On a miniaturized satellite topographic map of Yunnan, the 39 dams that are built, under construction, or planned are shown, turning the three rivers area into a beautiful necklace of pearls (Quote from a Yunnan newspaper)

“Find another project”: 

“Find another project” Fieldwork at Asian International Rivers Center, Yunnan University Contacted director in late 2003 about project to study “politics of hydropower in Yunnan” Email reply: “This is a very sensitive subject and I think it will be hard to find data. I think you should find another project.” Do what any rational individual would do: Panic. Visit to AIRC, discuss what I meant by “politics of hydropower,” go to lunch, and land an invitation! Lesson: aim high, be persistent, be flexible, be as clear and specific as possible with research goals

Research Methods: 

Research Methods Documentary research Government & industry publications, statistical yearbooks, newspapers & press releases Key informant interviews Government officials, NGO heads, dam development company executives, academics Participant observation Yunnan EcoNetwork; Asian International Rivers Center

Documentary sources: 

Documentary sources Electronic databases China Academic Journals database China Data Online (statistical yearbooks) University Service Centre (CUHK) database Ministerial websites often house statistical data Local newspapers and almanacs/yearbooks Newspapers often available online Reference managers Endnote, ProCite, etc.

Interviews and participant observation: 

Interviews and participant observation Formal setting often best for first encounter, informal for future meetings Go with a partner Do your homework Don’t record interviews What do you have to offer? Co-authorship Translation/Proofreading Collaboration is two-way street

Analysis: 

Analysis

Analysis of decision making: 

Analysis of decision making Decision making about hydropower. Who is at the table? What leverage do they have? How is this changing? Reforms in water and electricity sector since mid-1990s have left many conflicts, overlaps, and ambiguities Process depends on perspective

Perspective 1: Hydro Companies: 

Perspective 1: Hydro Companies Formerly part of central ministry Restructuring from 1996 to 2002 changed the shape of hydropower development authorities, but perhaps not the way they do business Maintenance of direct connections to Energy Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, and State Council

Ministry to SOE to Stock Company: 

Ministry to SOE to Stock Company Ministry of Electric Power (<1998)

Perspective 2: Basin Commission: 

Perspective 2: Basin Commission CWRC: One of seven watershed commissions that are neither local nor national in administrative scope 50 years as technical agency; less than five as an enforcement authority Chicken and egg: comprehensive plan vs. hydropower plan Hydropower leading planning; authority of CWRC being skirted.

Slide16: 

Watershed (Basin) Commission prepares comprehensive plan Developer solicits project pre-feasibility study Pre-feasibility study approved by Basin Commission Developer solicits technical plan & feasibility study Input from local gov’t & central ministries (forestry, transportation, navigation, agriculture water, SEPA) Developer begins work on project (bidding, contracting) Feasibility study & plan approved by Basin Commission Survey & Design Institute(s) Survey & Design Institute(s) Developer submits project application report Basin Commission approves project application report Potential State Council Intervention Construction Companies Survey & Design Institute(s) Banks and other financiers Decision-Making Process from CWRC Perspective

Slide17: 

Decision-Making Process from Company Perspective

Challenges: 

Challenges Who to believe? Corroboration and triangulation of findings Check your understanding with sources and colleagues periodically as you go What to do with sensitive sources? Anonymous and coded data (HSR requirements) Sharing writing with interviewees and informants What would I do differently? Earlier interviews, build more rapport More time in Wuhan with CWRC

Questions?: 

Questions?