Conceptualising Movements against Large Dams

Abstract

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a protracted struggle of more than three decades against large dams. While the movement has been a witness to various highs and lows, some key lessons nevertheless can be deducted by analysing its overall successes and failures. Arguments presented in this article are based on the assumption that ‘domestic mobilisation is one of the main strategies in shaping political will amongst state actors’. It argues that while transnational advocacy can help build consensus or appreciation towards critical developmental issues at the international level, domestic mobilisation or consensus amongst key stakeholders is perhaps the pre-requisite for influencing state response. The article is divided into three broad sections. The first section focuses on the history of the NBA. The genesis, nature and the role played by the movement in broadening the debate on dams with respect to development is studied. The second section deals with the internationalisation of the issue of large dams, when the NBA came to be known as a strong opponent of large dams. Based on the insights of the struggle in the third section some pointers are offered for social movements towards effectively shaping state behaviour on social and development issues.