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Population and Environment

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01-09-2006

Environmental resettlement and social dis/re-articulation in Inner Mongolia, China

Authors: Sarah Rogers, Mark Wang

Published in: Population and Environment | Issue 1/2006

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Abstract

The expanding use of resettlement as a tool for addressing environmental and poverty-related concerns in China calls for further research into its impacts on local populations. Our knowledge of the effects of such resettlement is very limited, particularly in relation to its social impacts. This paper examines the impoverishment risk of social disarticulation as it is experienced by resettlers in an Inner Mongolian environmental resettlement village—Wan Sheng village. We argue that social disarticulation as a risk of resettlement is by no means an inevitable downward spiral towards social oblivion and anomie. Resettlers, in this case at least, have recreated a living, functioning community that provides many aspects of support for its inhabitants. This is in spite of unfavourable construction and increased economic deprivation. It is the adaptive abilities of these resettlers that come to the fore in Wan Sheng, suggesting aspects of rearticulation and cohesion, and not simply disarticulation.

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See Xinhuanet, June 21, 2005.

Besides collecting the government documents related to environmental resettlement, Wang has also established good local contacts in Inner Mongolia. Roger’s interview in Wan Sheng village was introduced and arranged by one of Wang’s contacts in Inner Mongolia—Dr Li who is a professor of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Professor Li’s parents are the resettlers in Wan Sheng village.

We selected 2 interview households (one from each of two pre-resettlement villages) in every 20 neighboured households (individual interviewee was selected based on his/her time availability and willingness).

Grain for Green is an ecological recovery project in inland China. According to the policies, farmers in the west will now receive subsidies in the form of grain and money for turning cultivated land back into forest and pasture. Where conditions are suitable, many of the trees to be planted will be fruit and other commercially valuable trees. While the government provides the seedlings, the farmers are allowed to retain all the profits from planting trees and grass on cultivated land. In return, they will be responsible for taking care of the restored forests and pastures (see People’s Daily, April 17, 2000).

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Title: Environmental resettlement and social dis/re-articulation in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Sarah Rogers
Mark Wang
Publication date: 01-09-2006
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Published in: Population and Environment / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0199-0039
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7810
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-007-0033-x