“A handshake across the Himalayas:” Chinese investment, hydropower development, and state formation in Nepal

Eurasian Geography and Economics

Volumn 57, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 403-432

  Murton, Galen ^a   Lord, Austin ^b   Beazley, Robert ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO   (United States)

^b Cornell University ^*  (United States)

Author keywords

China; development; Himalayas; hydropower; infrastructure; Nepal

Indexed keywords

BILATERAL AGREEMENT; GEOPOLITICS; HYDROELECTRIC POWER; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; INVESTMENT; NATION STATE; POLITICAL ECONOMY; STATE ROLE; TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE;

HIMALAYAS; NEPAL;

EID: 84988956071     PISSN: 15387216     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/15387216.2016.1236349     Document Type: Article

References (80)

1. S.Acharya, Suresh. 2016. “NECHIN Time.” MyRepublica, January 19. Accessed January 20, 2016. http://myrepublica.com/opinion/story/35382/nechin-time.html
2. R.Adhikari, Rishi, ed. 2015. “Keynote Address by the Chief Guest, Hon. Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Foreign Minister of Nepal.” In Silk Route:Enhancing Nepal-China Connectivity; Celebrating the 60th Year of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Nepal and China, March 23. Kathmandu:Institute of Foreign Affairs.
3. Aid Data. 2011. China Pledges Rs 3 Million of Food Donation to Districts in Northern Nepal. Aid Data:Open Data for International Development, File ID:34426. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://china.aiddata.org/projects/34426
4. A.Ansar, Atif, B.FlyvbjergBent, A.BudzierAlexander, and D.LunnDaniel. 2014. “Should We Build More Large Dams? The Actual Costs of Hydropower Megaproject Development.” Energy Policy 69:43–56.10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.069
5. K.Bauer, Kenneth. 2004. High Frontiers. New York:Columbia University Press.
6. D.B.Bista, Dor Bahadur. 1991. Fatalism and Development:Nepal’s Struggle for Modernization. Hyderabad:Orient Longman.
7. D.Brautigam, Deborah. 2011. “Chinese Development Aid in Africa:What, Where, Why, and How Much?” In Rising China:Global Challenges and Opportunities, edited by J.Golley and L.Song, 203–223. Canberra:Australia National University.
8. D.Brautigam, Deborah. 2013. “Chinese Engagement in African Agriculture:Fiction and Fact.” In Handbook of Land and Water Grabs in Africa:Foreign Direct Investment and Food and Water Security, edited by J.A.Allan, M.Keulertz, S.Sojamo, and J.Warner, 91–103. London:Routledge.
9. G.Bridge, Gavin. 2013. “Resource Geographies II:The Resource-State Nexus.” Progress in Human Geography, 38:118–130. doi:10.1177/0309132513493379.
10. B.Campbell, Ben. 2014. “From Remote Area to Thoroughfare of Globalisation:Shifting Territorialisations of Development and Border Peasantry in Nepal.” In Territorial Changes and Territorial Restructuring in the Himalayas, edited by J.Smadja, 335–352. Paris:Centre for Himalayan Studies/Adroit.
11. B.Campbell, Ben. 2015. Living between Juniper and Palm:Nature, Culture, and Power in the Himalayas. Oxford:Oxford University Press.
12. CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics). 2014. Statistical Pocket Book of Nepal 2014. Kathmandu:Government of Nepal.
13. Chilime Hydropower Company. 2014. The Chilime Hydropower Company Annual Report:2009/2010. Accessed May 2014. http://www.chilime.com.np
14. S.Cowan, Sam. 2013. “All Change at Rasuwa Gadhi.” HIMALAYA:The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies 33:97–102.
15. Department of Mines and Geology. 2016. Enterprise GIS Based Mining and Geological Information System. Kathmandu:Ministry of Industry, Government of Nepal. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://gis.dmgnepal.gov.np/dmg/
16. DoR (Department of Roads). 2015. Statistics of Strategic Road Network 2013–14. Kathmandu:Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation, Government of Nepal. Accessed June 18, 2016. http://www.dor.gov.np/SSRN_2013_14.php
17. M.Des Chene, Mary. 2007. “Is Nepal in South Asia? The Condition of Non-Postcoloniality.” Studies in Nepali History and Society 12:207–223.
18. S.Dharmadhikary, Shripad. 2008. Mountains of Concrete:Dam Building in the Himalayas. Berkeley, CA:International Rivers.
19. K.M.Dixit, Kanak Mani. 2016. “Unintended Trans-Himalayan Consequences.” Nepali times, March 25–31. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://nepalitimes.com/article/nation/unintended-trans-himalayan-consequences-of-blockade,2942
20. A.Dixit, Ajaya, and D.GyawaliDipak. 2010. “Nepal’s Constructive Dialogue on Dams and Development.” Water Alternatives 3:106–123.
21. J.Ferguson, James, and A.GuptaAkhil. 2002. “Spatializing States:Toward an Ethnography of Neoliberal Governmentality.” American Ethnologist 29:981–1002.10.1525/ae.2002.29.4.981
22. D.Gellner, David. 2007. “Caste, Ethnicity and Inequality in Nepal.” Economic and Political Weekly 42:1823–1828.
23. A.Giri, Anil. 2015. “Generous Aid Pledges Delight Nepal.” The Kathmandu Post, June 25. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2015-06-25/generous-aid-pledges-delight-nepal.html
24. D.Gyawali, Dipak. 2003. Rivers Technology and Society. Kathmandu:Himal Books. (First published 2001 as Water in Nepal.)
25. H.Haegeland, Hannah. 2016. “Nepal’s Pivot to China May Be Too Late.” The National Interest, May 20. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/nepals-pivot-china-may-be-too-late-16285?page=2
26. T.Hagen, Toni. 1994. Building Bridges to the Third World. Delhi:Book Faith India.
27. T.Hagen, Toni. 2012. Decentralization and Development. Kathmandu:Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
28. S.Hangen, Susan. 2007. Creating a “New Nepal”:the Ethnic Dimension. Washington, DC:The East-West Center.
29. S.Hangen, Susan. 2009. The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal:Democracy in the Margins. New York:Routledge.
30. P.Harvey, Penny, and H.KnoxHannah. 2015. Roads:An Anthropology of Infrastructure and Expertise. Ithaca, NY:Cornell University Press.
31. A.Huber, Amelie, and D.JoshiDeepa. 2015. “Hydropower, Anti-Politics, and the Opening of New Political Spaces in the Eastern Himalayas.” World Development 76:13–25.10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.06.006
32. Human Rights Watch. 2014. Under China’s Shadow:Mistreatment of Tibetans in Nepal. New York:Human Rights Watch.
33. INCR. 2015. International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction. Accessed September 1. http://icnr2015.mof.gov.np/index.php
34. ICG (International Crisis Group). 2016. Nepal’s Divisive New Constitution:An Existential Crisis. Asia Report No. 2076. April 19. Brussels:International Crisis Group. Accessed August 16, 2016. https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/nepal/nepal%E2%80%99s-divisive-new-constitution-existential-crisis
35. International Rivers. 2012. The New Great Walls:A Guide to China’s Overseas Dam Industry. Berkeley, CA:International Rivers.
36. R.Kahrty, Ram. 2015. “China’s Relief Operations to Nepal the Biggest Ever Sent to a Foreign Soil.” South Asia online, May 9. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://www.southasia.com.au/2015/05/09/chinas-relief-operations-to-nepal-the-biggest-ever-sent-to-a-foreign-soil/
37. eKantipur. 2016a. “Roads to China Top Budget Priority.” The Kathmandu Post, May 24. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-05-04/roads-to-china-border-top-budget-priority.html
38. eKantipur. 2016b. “Nepal-China Issue 15 Point Joint Statement (Read Full Text).” The Kathmandu Post, March 23. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-03-23/nepal-china-issue-15-point-joint-statement-read-full-text.html
39. Kathmandu Post. 2016. “Fast and Furious.” The Kathmandu Post, May 9. Accessed August 16, 2016. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-05-09/fast-and-furious-20160509080337.html
40. R.Kumar, Ramesh. 2013. “Hands across the Himalaya:Chinese Trade and Investment in Nepal is Mounting Exponentially.” Nepali times, May 31–June 6. Accessed November 28, 2015. http://nepalitimes.com/article/nation/Hands,441#.Uag2rpx5ecU
41. M.Lawoti, Mahendra. 2007. “Contentious Politics in Democratizing Nepal.” In Contentious Politics and Democratization in Nepal, edited by M.Lawoti, 17–47. New Delhi:Sage.
42. C.K.Lee, Ching Kwan. 2009. “Raw Encounters:Chinese Managers, African Workers, and the Politics of Casualization in Africa’s Chinese Enclaves.” The China Quarterly 199 (September):647–666.10.1017/S0305741009990142
43. T.M.Li, Tania M. 2007. The Will to Improve. Durham, NC:Duke University Press.10.1215/9780822389781
44. X.Liu, Xiaoyuan. 2007. “Reins of Liberation:Geopolitics and Ethnopolitics of China, Central Asia, and the Asia Pacific.” The Asia Pacific Journal. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://apjjf.org/-Xiaoyuan-Liu/2427/article.html
45. A.Lord, Austin. 2014. “Making a ‘Hydropower Nation:’ Subjectivity, Mobility, and Work in the Nepalese Hydroscape.” HIMALAYA:Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies 34:111–121.
46. A.Lord, Austin. 2016. “Citizens of a Hydropower Nation:Territory and Agency at the Frontiers of Hydropower Development in Nepal.” Economic Anthropology 3 (1):145–160.10.1002/sea2.12051
47. T.Marslen, Tess. 2014. “Nepal, Hydropower, and Geopolitics:Balancing Interests in the Tibetan Plateau.” Future Directions International. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/nepal-hydropower-and-geopolitics-balancing-interests-in-the-tibetan-plateau/
48. S.Marston, Sallie. 2000. “The Social Construction of Scale.” Progress in Human Geography 24:219–242.10.1191/030913200674086272
49. K.McDonald, Kristen, P.BosshardPeter, and N.BrewerNicole. 2009. “Exporting Dams:China's Hydropower Industry Goes Global.” Journal of Environmental Management 90:S294–S302.10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.07.023
50. MoF (Ministry of Finance). 2014. Profiles of Development Partners. Kathmandu:Government of Nepal. Accessed December 11, 2015. http://mof.gov.np/ieccd/newsbook/20140820115245.pdf
51. MoF (Ministry of Finance). 2015. Economic Survey Fiscal Year 2014/15. Kathmandu:Government of Nepal. Accessed December 10, 2015. http://mof.gov.np/en/archive-documents/economic-survey-21.html
52. MoF (Ministry of Finance). 2016. Development Cooperation Report:Fiscal Year 2014/15. Kathmandu:Government of Nepal. Accessed January 12, 2016. http://mof.gov.np/ieccd/newsbook/20160424154147.pdf
53. MoPIT (Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation). 2016. Five Year Strategic Plan 2073–2078 (2016–2021). Kathmandu:Government of Nepal.
54. S.Mukherjee, Shiv. 2016. “Awaiting Nepal’s Second Liberation.” Frontline, June 10. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://www.frontline.in/world-affairs/awaiting-nepals-second-liberation/article8644540.ece?homepage=true
55. L.Nyaichyai, Lila. 2016. “Sino-Nepalese Rail Route Offers Rays of Hope.” Global times, May 24. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/984761.shtml
56. R.Pant, Radesh. 2013. “Press Releases and Web Content for Power Summit 2013.” Investment Board of Nepal. Accessed March 20, 2014. http://www.investmentboard.gov.np
57. R.Parajulee, Ramjee. 2000. The Democratic Transition in Nepal. Lanham, MD:Rowman and Littlefield.
58. S.L.Pigg, Stacey L. 1992. “Investing Social Categories through Place:Social Representations and Development in Nepal.” Comparative Studies in Society and History 34:491–513.10.1017/S0010417500017928
59. S.L.Pigg, Stacey L. 1993. “Unintended Consequences:The Ideological Impact of Development in Nepal.” Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East 13:45–58.10.1215/07323867-13-1_and_2-45
60. B.R.Poudel, Bhoj Raj. 2015. “Nepal’s Disgruntled Federalism.” The Diplomat, August 21. Accessed August 16, 2016. http://thediplomat.com/2015/08/nepals-disgruntled-federalism/
61. M.Power, Marcus, and G.MohanGiles. 2010. “Towards a Critical Geopolitics of China’s Engagement with African Development.” Geopolitics 15:462–495.10.1080/14650040903501021
62. M.Rest, Matteaus. 2012. “Generating Power:Debates on Development around the Nepalese Arun-3 Hydropower Project.” Contemporary South Asia 20:105–117.10.1080/09584935.2011.646071
63. J.Rinck, Jacob, and G.AdhikariGyanu. 2016. “Nepal’s Petrol Black Market:Super Citizens and Information Blackout.” The Record, February 19. Accessed August 16, 2016. http://recordnepal.com/wire/nepal%E2%80%99s-petrol-black-market-super-citizens-and-information-blackout
64. R.Samiti, Rastriya. 2015. “IPPAN Demands Declaration of ‘Energy Emergency’.” The Himalayan Times, November 2. Accessed June 20, 2016. https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/ippan-demands-declaration-of-energy-emergency/
65. R.Samiti, Rastriya. 2016. “Govt Acquires 51 Ropani Land for Dry Port near Neal-China Border.” The Himalayan Times, June 15. Accessed June 20, 2016. https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/govt-acquires-51-ropani-land-dry-port-near-nepal-china-border/
66. J.Scott, James. 1998. Seeing like a State. New Haven, CT:Yale University Press.
67. G.Sharma, Gopal. 2014. “China Raises Nepal Aid Five-Fold in Regional Diplomacy." Reuters, December 26. Accessed September 1, 2015. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/26/us-nepal-china-idUSKBN0K40LK20141226
68. S.Shneiderman, Sara. 2013. “Himalayan Border Citizens:Sovereignty and Mobility in the Nepal–Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) of China Border Zone.” Political Geography 35:25–36.10.1016/j.polgeo.2013.04.001
69. S.Singh, Shankar. 2015. “On the Occasion of Commemorating 60th Years of Nepal-China Diplomatic Relations. Silk Road:Enhancing:Nepal China Connectivity.” Nepalmynepal, May 3. Accessed November 14, 2015. https://nepalmynepal.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/on-the-occasion-of-commemorating-60th-years-of-nepal-china-diplomatic-relations-silk-road-enhancing-nepal-china-connectivity-2/
70. W.van Spengen, Wim. 2000. Tibetan Border Worlds:A Geohistorical Analysis of Trade and Traders. New York:Routledge.
71. K.Thapa, Krishna. 2016. “Locals Protest over Land Acquisition.” The Kathmandu Post, April 30. Accessed June 20, 2016. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2016-04-30/timure-locals-protest-over-land-acquisition.html
72. Tibet Tour International. 2014. Mandala. Lhasa:Hongji Group.
73. S.Tiezzi, Shannon. 2015. “After Devastating Earthquake, China Rushes Aid to Nepal.” The Diplomat, April 28. Accessed September 1, 2016. http://thediplomat.com/2015/04/after-devasating-earthquake-china-rushes-aid-to-nepal/
74. USAID (United States Agency for International Development). 2016. “Fact Sheet:Nepal Hydropower Development Program (NHDP).” Accessed June 9, 2016. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1861/Nepal_FactSheet_NHDP.pdf
75. F.Urban, Frauke, and J.NordensvardJohan. 2014. “China Dams the World:The Environmental and Social Impacts of Chinese Dams.” E-International Relations. Accessed September 1, 2015. http://www.e-ir.info/2014/01/30/china-dams-the-world-the-environmental-and-social-impacts-of-chinese-dams/
76. Wikileaks. 2012. IND/India/South Asia (released October 18, 2012). Accessed June 20, 2016. https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/83/832165_ind-india-south-asia-.html
77. World Bank. 2006. Infrastructure at the Crossroads:Lessons from 20 Years of World Bank Experience. Washington, DC:World Bank Group.
78. Xinhua. 2014. “China Becomes Largest FDI Contributor in Nepal.” China Daily, January 23. Accessed September 1, 2015. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/201401/23/content_17253053.htm
79. H.Yan, Hairong, and B.SautmanBarry. 2012. “Chasing Ghosts:Rumours and Representations of the Export of Chinese Convict Labour to Developing Countries.” The China Quarterly 210:398–418.
80. E.T.Yeh, Emily Ting. 2013. Taming Tibet:Landscape Transformation and the Gift of Chinese Development. Ithaca, NY:Cornell University Press.