(Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China Railway project

Diana Suhardiman; Jessica DiCarlo; Oulavanh Keovilignavong; Jonathan Rigg; Alan Nicol

doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.06.003

(Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China Railway project

Diana Suhardiman^*, Jessica DiCarlo, Oulavanh Keovilignavong, Jonathan Rigg, Alan Nicol

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper examines the governance and implementation of land compensation for the Laos-China Railway (LCR). It brings to light the central government's strategy to use compensation rules and procedures as its means to extend its spatial power across the provinces, districts, and villages that are affected by the railway construction. We examine both the manifestations and effects of state power through the formulation and implementation of land compensation procedures. Taking Naxang village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province, in Laos as a case, the paper highlights: 1) how centralized compensation rules and procedures serve as a means for the central government to expand its power; 2) how power relations between central-provincial-district governments (re)shaped the actual project implementation especially pertaining to compensation valuation and payment; and 3) implications for smallholder livelihood options and strategies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	79-88
Number of pages	10
Journal	Geoforum
Volume	124
Early online date	13 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.06.003
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was undertaken as part of, and funded by, the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). PIM is in turn supported by these donors. The opinions expressed here belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of PIM, IFPRI, or CGIAR. The authors would like to thank NAFRI, PAFO Luang Prabang, DAFO Chomphet for their support and collaboration throughout the (field) research. Special thanks go to Nikolai Sindorf for developing the map.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Land compensation
Laos
Large-scale infrastructure
Livelihood strategies
Power relations

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title = "(Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China Railway project",

abstract = "This paper examines the governance and implementation of land compensation for the Laos-China Railway (LCR). It brings to light the central government's strategy to use compensation rules and procedures as its means to extend its spatial power across the provinces, districts, and villages that are affected by the railway construction. We examine both the manifestations and effects of state power through the formulation and implementation of land compensation procedures. Taking Naxang village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province, in Laos as a case, the paper highlights: 1) how centralized compensation rules and procedures serve as a means for the central government to expand its power; 2) how power relations between central-provincial-district governments (re)shaped the actual project implementation especially pertaining to compensation valuation and payment; and 3) implications for smallholder livelihood options and strategies.",

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note = "Funding Information: This work was undertaken as part of, and funded by, the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). PIM is in turn supported by these donors. The opinions expressed here belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of PIM, IFPRI, or CGIAR. The authors would like to thank NAFRI, PAFO Luang Prabang, DAFO Chomphet for their support and collaboration throughout the (field) research. Special thanks go to Nikolai Sindorf for developing the map. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",

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AU - DiCarlo, Jessica

AU - Keovilignavong, Oulavanh

AU - Rigg, Jonathan

AU - Nicol, Alan

N1 - Funding Information: This work was undertaken as part of, and funded by, the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). PIM is in turn supported by these donors. The opinions expressed here belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of PIM, IFPRI, or CGIAR. The authors would like to thank NAFRI, PAFO Luang Prabang, DAFO Chomphet for their support and collaboration throughout the (field) research. Special thanks go to Nikolai Sindorf for developing the map. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2021/8

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N2 - This paper examines the governance and implementation of land compensation for the Laos-China Railway (LCR). It brings to light the central government's strategy to use compensation rules and procedures as its means to extend its spatial power across the provinces, districts, and villages that are affected by the railway construction. We examine both the manifestations and effects of state power through the formulation and implementation of land compensation procedures. Taking Naxang village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province, in Laos as a case, the paper highlights: 1) how centralized compensation rules and procedures serve as a means for the central government to expand its power; 2) how power relations between central-provincial-district governments (re)shaped the actual project implementation especially pertaining to compensation valuation and payment; and 3) implications for smallholder livelihood options and strategies.

AB - This paper examines the governance and implementation of land compensation for the Laos-China Railway (LCR). It brings to light the central government's strategy to use compensation rules and procedures as its means to extend its spatial power across the provinces, districts, and villages that are affected by the railway construction. We examine both the manifestations and effects of state power through the formulation and implementation of land compensation procedures. Taking Naxang village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province, in Laos as a case, the paper highlights: 1) how centralized compensation rules and procedures serve as a means for the central government to expand its power; 2) how power relations between central-provincial-district governments (re)shaped the actual project implementation especially pertaining to compensation valuation and payment; and 3) implications for smallholder livelihood options and strategies.

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KW - Laos

KW - Large-scale infrastructure

KW - Livelihood strategies

KW - Power relations

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DO - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.06.003

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SN - 0016-7185

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SP - 79

EP - 88

JO - Geoforum

JF - Geoforum

ER -

(Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China Railway project

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