Media Discourses of Mekong Dams: A Thematic Analysis

Delang, Claudio O.

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Media Discourses of Mekong Dams: A Thematic Analysis

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Delang Claudio O.

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Dyskursy medialne o zaporach na rzece Mekong: analiza tematyczna

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Abstrakty

Economic and political stability in Southeast Asia has led to a surge in Mekong dam development and construction in the 2010s. But, not only has the logistics of dam construction changed dramatically in the 35 years since Mekong hydroelectric development began; the public discourse surrounding hydroelectric development in the region has also expanded and diversified. The Mekong, while still seen by some throughout the region as a source of untapped economic opportunity, is also a source of growing concern for states who are losing control of the dams’ ecological impact. Both of these visions of the river are framed in the public imagination of various states by their respective media's chosen depiction of the issue of dam development. Through an examination of the discourse surrounding Mekong hydro development in the four Mekong River Commission (MRC) states, this paper explores the divergent interests of states currently engaged in a complex water diplomacy. Themes drawn from the English-language press coverage in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are compared to determine how the unique geographic and economic positioning of each state shapes their media's depiction of Mekong dam development. Shared concerns about environmental damage, MRC weakness, and economic futures are also explored.

Ekonomiczna i polityczna stabilizacja w południowo-wschodniej Azji doprowadziła po 2010 r. do podjęcia decyzji o budowie zapór na rzece Mekong. Od czasu, gdy 35 lat temu rozpoczął się rozwój energetyki wodnej na rzece Mekong wiele się zmieniło i to nie tylko od strony logistycznej, także dyskusja publiczna odnosząca się do przyszłości hydroenergetyki w regionie uległa rozszerzeniu. Rzeka nadal postrzegana jest przez wielu jako potencjalne źródło ekonomicznego wzrostu, zarazem jest przedmiotem rosnących obaw dla krajów, które wydają się nie być w stanie utrzymać pod kontrolą ekologicznych konsekwencji budowy zapór. Oba podejścia trafiają do obiegu publicznego w poszczególnych krajach dzięki doniesieniom medialnym. W niniejszym artykule dokonano przeglądu dyskursu wokół rozwoju hydroenergetyki na rzece Mekong w czterech krajach należących do Komisji ds. rzeki Mekong (Mekong River Commission. MRC), ukazano rozbieżności w preferencjach poszczególnych krajów, zaangażowanych w skomplikowaną dyplomacje wodną. Porównano treści publikowane w anglojęzycznej w Laosie, w Tajlandii, Kambodży i Wietnamie, w celu ustalenia, w jaki sposób unikalne położenie geograficzne i gospodarcze każdego państwa kształtuje obraz ich mediów w kontekście budowy kolejnych zapór na rzece Mekong. Omówiono również wspólne obawy dotyczące szkód wyrządzonych środowisku naturalnemu, słabości komisji MRC i konsekwencji tego stanu dla przyszłości ekonomicznej regionu.

Słowa kluczowe

dams discourse analysis Mekong Laos Cambodia Thailand Vietnam

zapory analiza dyskursu Mekong Laos Kambodża Tajlandia Wietnam

Wydawca

Lublin University of Technology

Czasopismo

Problemy Ekorozwoju

Rocznik

2019

Tom

Vol. 14, nr 1

Strony

119--130

Opis fizyczny

Bibliogr. 49 poz., fig.

Twórcy

autor

Delang Claudio O.

cdelang@hkbu.edu.hk

Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University

Bibliografia

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Uwagi

Opracowanie rekordu w ramach umowy 509/P-DUN/2018 ze środków MNiSW przeznaczonych na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (2019).

Typ dokumentu

Bibliografia

Identyfikator YADDA

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