RJA#10a: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1

1.) Roy, Arundhati. The Greater Common Good. Bombay: India Book Distributor, 1999. Print.

Arundhati Roy is extremely skilled at giving an in-depth perspective of the social aspects of dam construction. She is a world renowned social activist, and extremely credible among her colleagues. In "The Greater Common Good," Roy depicts the lack of governmental acknowledgment in regards to the displacement and resettlement of people. Roy illustrates the social activism and movements in the Narmada Valley that are resistant to dam construction.

2.)Leslie, Jacques. Deep Water: The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment. N.p.: Picador, 2006. Print.

This book has been the most helpful so far, in that it gives three different perspectives from three different people on dam construction and effects. All three people were members of the World Commission on dams, yet each have different (and like-minded) opinions. One of the ladies was an activist against dams, another is an anthropologist, dam re-settlement expert and consultant to the world bank, and the last is a representative of Australia's dam crisis (the necessity for them, but the problematic issues associated with them.) Clearly you can see the diverse opinions, which helps give a well-rounded perspective.


3.) McCully, Patrick. Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams. N.p.: Zed Books, 2001. Print.

This work particularly focuses on the economic factors going into dams. The financing and support of major corporations for profit, but also dives into the infrastructure and it's impact on society and their ability to support it financially. He talks about the politics of dams and how money can drive decisions instead of what is best for "everyone." I like this book the best because it gives a taste of behind the scenes construction, and how a project begins.

4.) Khagram, Sanjeev. Dams and Development: Transnational Struggles for Water and Power. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2004. Print.

Khagram expresses the economic symbol that dams used to represent in India, but with the rise of Non-Governmental Organizations they begin to shed light on the real effects dams have on society. He focuses specifically on the Narmada Valley (like Roy) and it's 3,030 dam projects under way. He also touches on how the political economy of India has changed as a result of these specific large dam projects, and how it gave India attention on the global scale.