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Hydropower Development and Resistance in Georgia: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Save the Rioni Valley Movement

Jakeli, Tamar LU (2022) HEKM51 20221
Department of Human Geography
Human Ecology
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis investigates the movement resisting Namakhvani Hydropower Plant Cascade Project, the largest energy project envisioned in Georgia since the declaration of independence. A Critical Discourse Analysis is used to understand the motives behind the resistance, which encompass both invocations of traditional values such as defense of ancestral land and livelihood and liberal concepts such as citizenship and private property. Furthermore, the movement problematizes the concept of development that fails to deliver benefits to the local population. The protestors expose Namakhvani HPP as anti-national and question the energy policy and resource management in the country. At the same time, the protest leaders encourage the average... (More)
This thesis investigates the movement resisting Namakhvani Hydropower Plant Cascade Project, the largest energy project envisioned in Georgia since the declaration of independence. A Critical Discourse Analysis is used to understand the motives behind the resistance, which encompass both invocations of traditional values such as defense of ancestral land and livelihood and liberal concepts such as citizenship and private property. Furthermore, the movement problematizes the concept of development that fails to deliver benefits to the local population. The protestors expose Namakhvani HPP as anti-national and question the energy policy and resource management in the country. At the same time, the protest leaders encourage the average citizen’s bottom-up participation in democratic processes in Georgia. However, the movement is not without contradictions, as demonstrated by incidents surrounding Tbilisi Pride 2021. Although the protest has succeeded in defending the Rioni Valley by getting the construction company to pull out, the emergence of a broader alliance against unjust energy projects and resource exploitation has been indefinitely postponed due to the disintegration of unity after the Save the Rioni Valley movement opposed Pride. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jakeli, Tamar LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM51 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
hydropower conflict, land grabbing, green grabbing, slow violence, environmentalism of the poor, Georgia
language
English
id
9097344
date added to LUP
2022-09-28 14:47:35
date last changed
2022-09-28 14:47:35
@misc{9097344,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the movement resisting Namakhvani Hydropower Plant Cascade Project, the largest energy project envisioned in Georgia since the declaration of independence. A Critical Discourse Analysis is used to understand the motives behind the resistance, which encompass both invocations of traditional values such as defense of ancestral land and livelihood and liberal concepts such as citizenship and private property. Furthermore, the movement problematizes the concept of development that fails to deliver benefits to the local population. The protestors expose Namakhvani HPP as anti-national and question the energy policy and resource management in the country. At the same time, the protest leaders encourage the average citizen’s bottom-up participation in democratic processes in Georgia. However, the movement is not without contradictions, as demonstrated by incidents surrounding Tbilisi Pride 2021. Although the protest has succeeded in defending the Rioni Valley by getting the construction company to pull out, the emergence of a broader alliance against unjust energy projects and resource exploitation has been indefinitely postponed due to the disintegration of unity after the Save the Rioni Valley movement opposed Pride.}},
  author       = {{Jakeli, Tamar}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Hydropower Development and Resistance in Georgia: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Save the Rioni Valley Movement}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}