Flooded: Development, Democracy, and Brazil's Belo Monte Dam

Governments have ignored the negative effects of large-scale infrastructure projects, but have introduced programs to alleviate these consequences. Flooded examines the little-known effects of these approaches through a close examination of Brazils Belo Monte hydroelectric facility, which brought extensive social, political, and environmental upheaval to the region.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Governments in the mid-twentieth century often overlooked the detrimental impacts of large-scale infrastructure projects. However, in recent decades, many democratic countries have continued to utilize dams for economic growth while implementing accompanying programs to mitigate the adverse effects on local communities, reduce poverty, and promote participatory governance. This approach to dam construction is seen as a progressive step towards responsible governance. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these policies remains a subject of debate.

Flooded: The Unseen Effects of Large Infrastructure Projects explores the lesser-known consequences of these approaches through a detailed examination of Brazil's Belo Monte hydroelectric facility. After decades of controversy surrounding damming the Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon, the dam was completed in 2019 under the left-of-center Workers Party, becoming the world's fourth-largest. The construction project was accompanied by significant investments in social welfare programs. However, the dam brought about widespread social, political, and environmental upheaval in the region. The population surged, leading to a steep increase in living costs, a surge in violence, a rise in pollution, and a strain on already overburdened education and healthcare systems. Nearly 40,000 people were displaced, and ecosystems were significantly disrupted.

The book by Klein tells the stories of communities affected by dams, including activists, social movements, non-governmental organizations, public defenders, and public prosecutors. He provides a detailed account of how these groups, as well as government officials and representatives from private companies, negotiated the turmoil through protests, participation in public forums for deliberation, leveraging legal mechanisms to advocate for the protection of vulnerable populations, and engaging in various other civic spaces.

Flooded offers a rich ethnographic account of the experiences of dam-affected communities, shedding light on the complexities and challenges they face in the wake of large infrastructure projects. The book highlights the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to infrastructure development that considers the social, economic, and environmental impacts on local communities. It also emphasizes the importance of participatory governance and the need for governments to engage with and listen to the voices of those affected by such projects.

In conclusion, Flooded: The Unseen Effects of Large Infrastructure Projects provides valuable insights into the unintended consequences of large-scale infrastructure projects. Through a close examination of the Belo Monte hydroelectric facility in Brazil, the book highlights the need for a more responsible and inclusive approach to infrastructure development that prioritizes the well-being and rights of local communities. It serves as a call to action for policymakers, developers, and citizens to consider the long-term impacts of such projects and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978826137