Rules, Norms and NGO Advocacy Strategies Hydropower Development on the Mekong River Earthscan Studies in Water Resource Management Series

There is much controversy over the development of new dams for hydropower, where concerns for environmental protection and the livelihoods of local people may conflict with the goals of economic development. This book analyses the opportunities and barriers that NGOs and civil society actors face when conducting advocacy campaigns against such developments.

Through a comparison of two NGO coalitions in Cambodia and Vietnam advocating against the Xayaburi hydropower dam on the Mekong River, the book explores the intricate interactions of formal and informal rules and norms and how they influence advocacy strategies. A framework for analysis is proposed which serves as a tool for analysis by civil society actors. The author generates fresh insights into the way in which opportunities and barriers are created for NGOs to influence state-centric decision-making processes.

The book also discusses Mekong riparian states? negotiation process over the Xayaburi hydropower dam in detail, providing an analysis of the Mekong River?s governance under the 1995 Mekong Agreement. The book concludes by suggesting ways to improve the engagement of civil society actors in the governance of transboundary rivers and development projects.

1. NGOs and Environmental Governance Part 1: Research Design 2. Analysing NGO Advocacy Strategies 3. Framework for Analysis: NGO Coalitions Along the Mekong River Part 2: Biophysical and Material Conditions, Actors, Rules and Norms 4. Biophysical and Material Conditions 5. Actors 6. Rules and Norms Part 3: Strategies and Interactions 7. The Xayaburi Dam Story 8. Strategies Targeting the Mekong Regional Decision-makers 9. Strategies Targeting National Decision-makers 10. Strategies Targeting Stakeholders in Affected Areas 11. Strategies Targeting General Public 12. Conclusion

Yumiko Yasuda is an environmental and water governance specialist. She was a researcher for the Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. She has previously worked for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Southeast Asia.