A review of P. Hirsch, Globalization, Regionalization

A review of P. Hirsch, "Globalization, Regionalization and local voices: The Asian Development Bank and re-scaled politics of environment in the Mekong region" By catktd90 A review of P. Hirsch, "Globalization, Regionalization and local voices: The Asian Development Bank and re-scaled politics of environment in the Mekong region" This paper was written by Philip Hirsch who aims to examine about globalization, regionalization and its effect to local people in terms of resource and environment.

This paper also considers some key issues of re-scaling resource and environmental olitics in the Mekong region, and the extent to which challenges have been recast from national to regional development agendas by illustrating case studies in Laos and Thailand (Hirsch, 2001). Throughout the paper, Hirsch illustrates an important aspect of globalization directly related to sustainability, shows a fundamental change in thinking and speaking among government official and local people, and shows an interesting politics of environment in Thailand, with its shifting alliances and ideas about relationship between people and nature.

In recent years, globalization and egionalization has been widening all around the world. Although it has some positive points, it also brings to nation and local people some negative points. According to Michael, Globalization is manufactured as a discursive negation of the possibility if nations defining their own futures (McMichael, 1996). For Hirsch, he explores the changing resource and environmental politics of the Mekong Region in the context of regional integration, with a specific focus on the Asian Development Bank (ADS) and its Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS) programme.

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In the Mekong egion, Asian Development Bank force for regionalization through the specific projects it has supported that have impacted on local communities and ecosystems. Globalization and regionalization in the Mekong region are temporally and spatially differentiated. While Thailand has thus explicitly articulated both with globalization and ant globalization discourses, in the case of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, it is difficult to separate the advent of globalization; Globalization has been witnesses not only the economic growth but also the financial crisis in Mekong region.

However, hese countries have been influenced by development project which supported by ADB such as dam project etc. It is believed that Dam construction impacts on local communities' livelihood and ecosystem causing many problems to environment. For example, The Nam Theun-Hinboun Dam in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PRD) is one of ADB development project. It causes the insufficient water in dry season and flood in the rainy season as well as erosion of river banks in upstream and downstream.

It also impacts on the local communities' livelihood such as fisheries, crops, etc. Warren claimed that from 30 to 90 per cent of fishery-related livelihood has been lost in the main impact areas (Warren, 1999). While there are number of some scientists still believe in the benefits of the dam in development process. It is clear that the local communities have to raise their voice to protect themselves from these attacks; however, it depends on countries politic.

For example, in the case of Rasi Salai Dam on the Mun river in Thailand, the Dam completed in 1994 and effected livelihood and environment of a large areas. Because its serious effects, the local people established a protest villages. The protest Joined 16 other sets of villages with grievances throughout the Northeast to Join with the Assembly of the Poor in a national protest in Bangkok and finally, they were succeeded. But In the case of Laos or Vietnam, the people cannot do something like that because of their thinking and their countrys politic.

It is obvious that economic growth always cause some consequences in livelihood or environment. In this situation, to adapt with globalization and regionalization many countries build many infrastructure to develop their economy, emphasize large-scale planning. Finally, these things affect heir own country seriously in terms of environment and community's livelihood. Thus, it is expected that there will be a re-scale politics and environment not only in Mekong region but also in the world.

In conclusion, globalization and regionalization is an ongoing process. Thus, this process needs more sustainable solutions for both the supporter (ADB and GMS) and the country which received financial for their economic development. One country should concern more about environmental problems when conducting any development project because a development projects need balance on economic, social, and environment aspect. In addition, a country should have their suitable policy on the road of development.

REFERENCES Hirsch, P. (2001). "Globalization, Regionalization and local voices: The Asian Development Bank and re-scaled politics of environment in the Mekong region". Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 22(3), 237-251. McMichael, P. (1996). Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams. London: Zed books. Warren, T. (1999). 'A Monitoring study to assess the localized impacts created by the Theun- Hinboun hydro”scheme on fisheries and fish populations. Final report to the Theun- Hinboun Power Company.

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