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Through the political ecology, this paper investigates the historical and contemporary impact of flood hazards in Central Thailand. It examines how these factors influence flood perceptions and attitudes among individuals and communities living in the flood-prone area. Data were gathered from fieldwork as well as in-depth interviews with government officials and local residents in three localities – an urban area in Samut Sakorn Province, a peri-uran area in Ayutthaya Province and a rural area in Pichit Province. The cross-case analysis uncovers that, even in the midst of the rapidly-changing landscapes and the difference in flood-acceptance levels among inhabitants of dissimilar areas, most interviewees perceive recurring floods, and occasional big ones, as natural phenomena and believe them to be normative. Given the periodic nature of the floods, local residents have been adapting to flood hazards from experience and native knowledge. This paper shows that the 2011 Mega Flood was different, as it was unexpected and of colossal scale. While numerous residents see climate change as the chief factor for this crisis, many also believe that politics plays a major part. The study has found that residents are knowledgeable about the socio-political elements, which have increased flood vulnerability in their communities, but are powerless to react to most issues. Indeed, the implementation of growth-oriented development strategies, technocratic and centralized policies, ongoing political tribulations and the marginalization of some groups through unjust water infrastructure, since the past, have increased undesirable impacts of flood and lowered the coping and adaptive capacities of the local residents.
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Living with Flood: The Political Ecology of Flood Hazards in Central ThailandNuttavikhom Phanthuwongpakdee (Kay)King’s College London & National University of Singapore
Outline
Background
Research Question
Theoretical Frameworks
Data Collection
Result Analysis + Discussion
Flood
2005 Flood in New Orleans
2007 African Flood
2010 China Flood
2010 Pakistan Flood
2011 Thailand Flood
2013-2014 Flood in the UK and Ireland
To cause, to fill, or become covered with water, especially in a way that causes problems. (Cambridge Dictionaries Online)
Flood in Central Thailand
Flood in Central Thailand
Physical Features of Thailand
Flood in Central Thailand
Thailand 2011 Mega Flood
Thailand 2011 Mega Flood
Question
Despite Massive Investments In
Prevention, Why Does Flood Remain As A
Problem in Central Thailand?
Climate Change
Deforestation
Political Divide
Mismanagement
Not Enough Protections
Theoretical Framework
Political Ecology The vulnerabilities of people to disaster is not
“natural”, but is rather the result of political,
economic, and social systems;
Pressure and Release (PAR) Model.
Social Nature Social Construction of Nature;
By Noel Castree and Bruce Braun in 2001;
Nature is social and we cannot separate the two.
The Pressure and Release (PAR) ModelBy Blaikie et al. (1994)
Data Collection
Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
Flood was Thai Way Of Life
Flood was Thai Way Of Life
1. Modernization
Initially to Counter Colonization
Change from Water-based Society to
Land-based one
Technocratic Society
Model after the European “Civilized”
Nation-State
Growing Population
Green Revolution
Root Causes
2. Marginalization or Facilitation
Neoliberal Economy Patronage System Centralization Thai Cultural System
3. Ideologies
Root Causes
Limited Access to Power Too Much Access to Power
Technocratic Policies
Centralized Policies
Rapid Laissez-faire urban growth and expansion of
industrial areas and other important amenities into
floodplain
Disparagement of traditional beliefs and practices
Government Corruption
Inefficient Officials
Dynamic Pressures
Physical Higher Flood Risk, Exposure and Vulnerability Unfair Structural Protections
Economic Too dependent on activities in the floodplains
Social Change in Lifestyle Indifference towards indigenous knowledge Cognitive & Political Biases Low Risk Perception
Governance Lack of Public Participation Institutional Gaps Struggle for Power
Unsafe Condtions
After The 2011 Mega Flood
Further Research
Urban Land planning
Climate Change
Institutional Gaps
Local Adaptation
Local Participation
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