Living with Flood: The Political Ecology of Flood Hazards in Central Thailand

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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