The construction of the Three Gorges dam in China involves the relocation of more than 1.2 million people over 17 years. This resettlement project has special demographic, social, economic and political characteristics, and has profound influence on urban and rural life.
This book examines the factors influencing the sustainability of the Three Gorges rural resettlement, and the problems and coping strategies of the relocation programme implemented over the period 2000-06. The author employs a multi-method approach – using geographical information system, interviews, social surveys and documentary analysis – to analyse the different dimensions of the resettlement. There are insightful evaluations of the impacts on the displaced families and on the host communities, of government reactions to resettlement-related problems, and of the current status of the relocation programme in meeting the original objectives. New findings in this book will contribute to the understanding of resettlement issues and associated socio-economic transformations in China.