Planning the Lower Mekong Basin: Social Intervention on the Se San River by Ly Thim, and: Floods and Farmers: Politics, Economics, and Environmental Impacts of Dyke Construction in the Mekong Delta/Vietnam by Pham Cong Huu (review)

TLDR: In this paper, the authors reviewed two books on water-resource development in the lower Mekong Basin and discussed the role of participants, ranging from international donors and experts to those at the village and farm levels, who must bear the consequences of decisions in which they have had no part.

Abstract: I have chosen to review these two books together because they deal with different, but related, issues in water-resource development in the lower Mekong Basin. Concerns related to development and to conflict in the Mekong Basin are in the news almost daily. These two books help us to understand the full picture and role of participants, ranging from the international donors and experts to those at the village and farm levels, who must bear the consequences of decisions in which they have had no part.