Energy Production and Social Marginalisation in China
Title:
Energy Production and Social Marginalisation in China
Author:
Andrews-Speed, Philip Ma, Xin
Appeared in:
The journal of contemporary China
Paging:
Volume 17 (2008) nr. 55 pages 247-272
Year:
2008-05
Contents:
The exploitation and production of primary energy resources and the supply of this energy is critical for China's economic development. Despite the obvious economic benefit to the nation, this energy production has had significant negative socio-economic impacts on certain groups of people at local and national scales. This paper documents three cases of energy production in China and demonstrates that, in each case, marginalisation of social groups has either been created or has been enhanced. These cases are the Three Gorges Dam, the Yumen oilfield, and township and village coal mines. The causes of this marginalisation have their roots in the structures, processes and approaches taken in the making and implementation of national policy in China, and are compounded by poor regulation and monitoring, poor civil rights, and the tension between central and local governments. The government which came to power in 2003 recognised the extent and importance of these social challenges relating to energy production, and has started to take steps to address them.
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