| Peer-Reviewed

An Anthropological Approach to HEPPs in Eastern Anatolia: The Case of Aksu Valley

Published: 30 October 2013
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Both water and development have very important functions in human life. Throughout the history, people have designed and constructed dams, reservoirs and irrigation systems to supply agricultural lands with water as well as converting water into energy as part of development projects. While water resources development projects are mostly preferred as they are cheaper and clean compared to other alternatives, impacts of such projects on people, their livelihoods and nature have been particularly devastating in many parts of the world such as Asia, Africa and Latin America. Recently, with an argument of increasing energy demand and reduction in dependence on imported energy, Turkish government has initiated some sort of “mobilization” for small hydroelectric power plants (HEPPs) to be run by private companies, particulary in the Eastern Anatolia and Black Sea regions. Despite recent initiatives, there is no established water policy in Turkey. Outsourcing control over free-flowing streams out of local representational structures into the hands of private companies has resulted in social movements and protests against these projects. I conducted a fieldwork in one of the valleys in Eastern Anatolia where two HEPPs have been constructed. Methods used during the 8-week fieldwork included participant observation, focus group studies and in-depth interviews. Privatization of the water resource in the Aksu Valley (formerly Salaçor) not only gave the entire control of water to the contractor company for 49 years, but also left all the public services in the valley to the mercy of the company while use of water has been historically well-managed by the local community, who was in control and distribution of the water. This paper discusses outcomes of the HEPP project in daily life of the local people in Aksu Valley, asserting that users of water resources should have been considered as participants in water management, planning, and decision-making of development projects. A drop of water is a sea to an ant, Afghan proverb

Published in Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 2, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19
Page(s) 115-124
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Anthropology, Water, Development, HEPPs, Eastern Anatolia

References
[1] J. Lundquist and P. Gleick, Sustaining Waters into the 21st Century. Background paper to the Comprehensive Assessment of Freshwater Resources of the World, Stockholm: Stockholm Environment Institute (1997).
[2] S.B. Banerjee, C.M.C. Vanessa and M. Raza, The Imperial formations of globalization, in: Organizations, Markets and Imperial Formations: Towards and Anthropology of Globalization, Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc., Cheltenham, 2009, pp.3-16.
[3] T.C. Lewellen, The Anthropology of Globalization: Cultural Anthropology Enters the 21st Century, Bergin &Garvey, Westport, 2002.
[4] A.F. Okongwu and J.P. Mencher, The Anthropology of Public Policy: Shifting Terrains, Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 29 (2000) 107-127.
[5] C.P. Kottak, The New Ecological Anthropology,in: N. Haenn and R. Wilk(Eds.), The Environment in Anthropology: A Reader in Ecology, Culture and Sustainable Living, New York University Press, New York, 2006, pp. 40-52.
[6] M. Edelman and A. Haugerud, The Antropology of Development and Globalisation, in: M. Edelman and A. Haugerud(Eds.) The Anthropology of Development: From Classical Political Economy and Contemporary Neoliberalism, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2005, pp. 1-74.
[7] P. Descola and G. Pálsson, Introduction, in: P. Descola and G. Pálsson (Eds.), Nature and Society, Routledge, London-New York, edition published in Taylor&Francis E-Library, 2004, pp. 1-21.
[8] S. Narotzky, The Production of Knowledge and The Production of Hegemony: Anthropological Theory and Political Struggles in Spain, in: G.L. Riberio and A. Escobar (Eds.), World Anthropologies: Disciplinary Formations within Systems of Power, Berg, Oxford and New York, 2006, pp.133-156.
[9] E.J. Nealer and M. Naude, Integrated co-operative governance in the context of sustainable development, TD The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 7(1) July (2011) 105-118.
[10] B. Orlove and S.C. Caton, Water Sustainability: Anthropological Approaches and Prospects, Annual Review of Anthropology, 39 (2010) 401-415.
[11] J. Blatter, H. Ingram and S.L. Levesque, Introduction, in Expanding Perspectives on Transboundary Water in:J. Blatter and H. Ingram (Eds.) Reflections on Water: New Approaches to Transboundary Conflicts and Cooperation, The MIT Press, Massachusetts and London, 2001, pp. 31-53.
[12] S.Sornmani and K. Okanurak, Socioeconomic and health impacts of water resources devleopment in Thailand, in: Brian H. Kay (Ed.)Water Resources: Health, Environment and Development, E&FN SPON, London and New Yok, 1999, pp. 229-245.
[13] World Commission on Dams. Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making: The Report of the World Commission on Dams. London and Sterling: Earthscan Publications (2000).
[14] K.A. Berry and E. Mollard, Introduction, in: K.A. Berry and E. Mollard (Eds.) Social Participation in Water Governance and Management: Critical and Global Perspectives, VA: Earthscan, London and Sterling, 2010, pp. xx-xxvii.
[15] V. Strang, The Meaning of Water, Berg, Oxford-New York, 2004.
[16] R.B. Johnston, L. Hiwasaki, I.J. Klaver, A.R. Castillo and V. Strang (Eds.), Water, Cultural Diversity and Global Environmental Change: Emerging Trends, Sustainable Futures,UNESCO and Springer, 2012.
[17] H.G. Brauch, P. Kameri-Mbote, U.O. Spring, N.C. Behera, J. Grin, B. Chorou, C. Mesjasz and H. Krummenacher in:H.G. Brauch (Ed.) Facing Global Environmental Change: Environmental, Human, Energy, Food, Health and Water Security Concepts. Hexagon Series on Human and Enviroment Security and Peace, Vol.4, Springer, Heiderberg, 2009.
[18] TMMOB Su Raporu: Küresel Su Politikaları ve Türkiye. Ankara, 2009. Information on www.tmmob.org.tr.
[19] F.H. Topçu, Hidroelektrik Santrallarında Kamu ve Özel Sektörün Rolünün Değişimi ve Yarattığı Sorunlar, Uluslararası Alanya İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi 3/1 (2011) 223-242.
[20] T. Kaya, Türkiye’de Su Gücü ve Küçük Hidroelektrik Santraller,Nevşehir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 1(2011)207:238.
[21] O. Ürker and N. Çobanoğlu, Türkiye’de Hidroelektrik Santrallerin Durumu (HES’ler) ve Çevre Politikaları Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi, Ankara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 3(2) (2012) 65-88.
[22] Information on http://www.euas.gov.tr/Sayfalar/YillikRaporlar.aspx, last access on 15.07.2013
[23] TMMOB Hidroelektrik Santraller Raporu. Ankara, Ekim 2011, Information on www.tmmob.org.tr
[24] M. Hamsici, Dereler ve İsyanlar: "HES, HES, HES! Hadi be sen de! Kes, kes, kes! Beni iyi dinle!, NotaBene Yayınları, Ankara, 2011.
[25] R. Sever and Ö. Ulukalın, Artvin İlinde Yapılan/Yapılmakta Olan Barajlar Hakkında Artvin Halkının Bazı Görüşleri, Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi, 23 (2010) 65-80.
[26] Parallel report in response to the Initial Report by the Republic of Turkey on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, submitted on 14 March 2011 by CounterCurrent – GegenStrömung to the UN Committe on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for its 46th Session, 2-20 May (2011).
[27] M. Özalp, O. Kurdoğlu, E.E. Yüksel and S. Yıldırımer, Artvin’de Nehir Tipi Hidroelektrik Santrallerin Olduğu/Olacağı Ekolojik ve Sosyal Sorunlar, Cilt:II. III. Karadeniz Ormancılık Kongresi, 20-22 Mayıs (2010) 677-687.
[28] Information on http://www.yesilgazete.org/page/3/?s=Buyuk+Anadolu+ Yuruyusu&x=0&y=0, last access on 17.02.2012
[29] Ö.S. Işıl, Toplumsal Hareket Örneği: HES Karşıtı Mücadeleler, Sosyolojik Tartışmalar, 3(2012) 8-24.
[30] Information on http://www.necatiaksu.net/aksuvadisi/genel.htm, last access on 17.02.2013.
[31] Information on http://www.borusanenbw.com.tr/en/ProjectAndInvestments/ ExistingPlants.aspx, last access on 17.02.2013.
[32] J. Linton, What is Water? The History of a Modern Abstraction, UBC Press,Vancouver, 2010.
[33] C. Geertz, The Wet and the Dry: Traditional Irrigation in Bali and Morocco, Human Ecology, 1 (1972) 34-39.
[34] Information on http://bianet.org/bianet/bianet/125816-konser-oncesi-borusan-in-hes-insaatina-protesto, last access on 17.02.2013
[35] E. Swyngedouw, Social Power and the Urbanization of Water: Flows of Power, Oxford University Press, New York, 2004.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Pervin Yanikkaya Aydemir. (2013). An Anthropological Approach to HEPPs in Eastern Anatolia: The Case of Aksu Valley. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 2(5), 115-124. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Pervin Yanikkaya Aydemir. An Anthropological Approach to HEPPs in Eastern Anatolia: The Case of Aksu Valley. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2013, 2(5), 115-124. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Pervin Yanikkaya Aydemir. An Anthropological Approach to HEPPs in Eastern Anatolia: The Case of Aksu Valley. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2013;2(5):115-124. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19,
      author = {Pervin Yanikkaya Aydemir},
      title = {An Anthropological Approach to HEPPs in Eastern Anatolia: The Case of Aksu Valley},
      journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
      volume = {2},
      number = {5},
      pages = {115-124},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20130205.19},
      abstract = {Both water and development have very important functions in human life. Throughout the history, people have designed and constructed dams, reservoirs and irrigation systems to supply agricultural lands with water as well as converting water into energy as part of development projects. While water resources development projects are mostly preferred as they are cheaper and clean compared to other alternatives, impacts of such projects on people, their livelihoods and nature have been particularly devastating in many parts of the world such as Asia, Africa and Latin America. Recently, with an argument of increasing energy demand and reduction in dependence on imported energy, Turkish government has initiated some sort of “mobilization” for small hydroelectric power plants (HEPPs) to be run by private companies, particulary in the Eastern Anatolia and Black Sea regions. Despite recent initiatives, there is no established water policy in Turkey. Outsourcing control over free-flowing streams out of local representational structures into the hands of private companies has resulted in social movements and protests against these projects. I conducted a fieldwork in one of the valleys in Eastern Anatolia where two HEPPs have been constructed. Methods used during the 8-week fieldwork included participant observation, focus group studies and in-depth interviews. Privatization of the water resource in the Aksu Valley (formerly Salaçor) not only gave the entire control of water to the contractor company for 49 years, but also left all the public services in the valley to the mercy of the company while use of water has been historically well-managed by the local community, who was in control and distribution of the water. This paper discusses outcomes of the HEPP project in daily life of the local people in Aksu Valley, asserting that users of water resources should have been considered as participants in water management, planning, and decision-making of development projects. A drop of water is a sea to an ant, Afghan proverb},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - An Anthropological Approach to HEPPs in Eastern Anatolia: The Case of Aksu Valley
    AU  - Pervin Yanikkaya Aydemir
    Y1  - 2013/10/30
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19
    T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
    JF  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
    JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
    SP  - 115
    EP  - 124
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7993
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20130205.19
    AB  - Both water and development have very important functions in human life. Throughout the history, people have designed and constructed dams, reservoirs and irrigation systems to supply agricultural lands with water as well as converting water into energy as part of development projects. While water resources development projects are mostly preferred as they are cheaper and clean compared to other alternatives, impacts of such projects on people, their livelihoods and nature have been particularly devastating in many parts of the world such as Asia, Africa and Latin America. Recently, with an argument of increasing energy demand and reduction in dependence on imported energy, Turkish government has initiated some sort of “mobilization” for small hydroelectric power plants (HEPPs) to be run by private companies, particulary in the Eastern Anatolia and Black Sea regions. Despite recent initiatives, there is no established water policy in Turkey. Outsourcing control over free-flowing streams out of local representational structures into the hands of private companies has resulted in social movements and protests against these projects. I conducted a fieldwork in one of the valleys in Eastern Anatolia where two HEPPs have been constructed. Methods used during the 8-week fieldwork included participant observation, focus group studies and in-depth interviews. Privatization of the water resource in the Aksu Valley (formerly Salaçor) not only gave the entire control of water to the contractor company for 49 years, but also left all the public services in the valley to the mercy of the company while use of water has been historically well-managed by the local community, who was in control and distribution of the water. This paper discusses outcomes of the HEPP project in daily life of the local people in Aksu Valley, asserting that users of water resources should have been considered as participants in water management, planning, and decision-making of development projects. A drop of water is a sea to an ant, Afghan proverb
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Master’s Degree Program, Yeditepe University, Anthropology Department, Istanbul-Turkey

  • Sections