reformed in accordance with neoliberal notions (see Başkan, 2011; Kibaroğlu et al.,
2009; Harris/Islar, 2013). This has led Turkey to experience a paradigm shift in its
water management and energy sector from state-led constructions of mega-dams to
the private sector-led constructions of small-scale hydroelectricity power plants
(HEPP, hereafter), particularly in the 2000s (see Sayan/Kibaroğlu, 2016).
Currently, it is estimated that Turkey has authorized and/or constructed around
1500 HEPPs throughout the country to maximize its utilization of its hydropower
potential. Although these small-scale HEPPs have fewer social and environmental
impacts than mega-dams, these constructions are widely associated with local
opposition movements due to their social, economic, cultural and environmental
impacts, such as loss of livelihoods, decrease in water availability, deforestation and
loss of water use rights. Local communities also opposed to HEPPs, as they perceive the process of planning and construction to be non-transparent and
non-democratic (Hamsici, 2010). This chapter therefore focuses on the process of
small-scale HEPP construction, as it represents the most recent paradigm in
Turkey’s water management and energy sector, and explores why local communities perceive it as non-transparent and non-democratic.
We explore the emerging concept of “meaningful participation” within the
framework of environmental justice, with specific reference to Turkey’s recent
experience of building several small-scale HEPPS. We scrutinize this process,
including its entrenched legal framework, and come up with suggestion to elaborate
further on the concept of meaningful participation by delineating its four components. We mainly adopt a qualitative methodology with discourse and legal document analysis as well as mass and social media analysis of Turkey’s HEPP
policies. Additionally, we have conducted a field-study in south-western Turkey to
strengthen our empirical analysis. To enrich our analysis we scale up our study to
include observations and remarks on the social and environmental impacts of
Turkey’s small-scale HEPP venture.
9.2 Procedural Environmental Justice: Meaningful
Participation
Since the late 1970s, the concept of environmental justice has become an integral
part of environmental social sciences. As a contested concept, it “address[es]
questions of inequality, fairness, and rights with respect to environmental conditions and decision-making processes” (Holifield, 2012: 592).
With the evolution of the concept, its theoretical focus has shifted from the
redistribution of environmental burdens and benefits across society towards other
dimensions of justice, such as recognition and participation (see Schlosberg, 2007,
2013). Procedural environmental justice refers to people’s participation in environmental governance (Schlosberg, 2004). It also suggests that more democratic
and more participatory decision-making processes on environmental issues can
tackle the recognitional and distributive environmental injustices within society
142
R. C. Sayan and A. Kibaroğlu
2009; Harris/Islar, 2013). This has led Turkey to experience a paradigm shift in its
water management and energy sector from state-led constructions of mega-dams to
the private sector-led constructions of small-scale hydroelectricity power plants
(HEPP, hereafter), particularly in the 2000s (see Sayan/Kibaroğlu, 2016).
Currently, it is estimated that Turkey has authorized and/or constructed around
1500 HEPPs throughout the country to maximize its utilization of its hydropower
potential. Although these small-scale HEPPs have fewer social and environmental
impacts than mega-dams, these constructions are widely associated with local
opposition movements due to their social, economic, cultural and environmental
impacts, such as loss of livelihoods, decrease in water availability, deforestation and
loss of water use rights. Local communities also opposed to HEPPs, as they perceive the process of planning and construction to be non-transparent and
non-democratic (Hamsici, 2010). This chapter therefore focuses on the process of
small-scale HEPP construction, as it represents the most recent paradigm in
Turkey’s water management and energy sector, and explores why local communities perceive it as non-transparent and non-democratic.
We explore the emerging concept of “meaningful participation” within the
framework of environmental justice, with specific reference to Turkey’s recent
experience of building several small-scale HEPPS. We scrutinize this process,
including its entrenched legal framework, and come up with suggestion to elaborate
further on the concept of meaningful participation by delineating its four components. We mainly adopt a qualitative methodology with discourse and legal document analysis as well as mass and social media analysis of Turkey’s HEPP
policies. Additionally, we have conducted a field-study in south-western Turkey to
strengthen our empirical analysis. To enrich our analysis we scale up our study to
include observations and remarks on the social and environmental impacts of
Turkey’s small-scale HEPP venture.
9.2 Procedural Environmental Justice: Meaningful
Participation
Since the late 1970s, the concept of environmental justice has become an integral
part of environmental social sciences. As a contested concept, it “address[es]
questions of inequality, fairness, and rights with respect to environmental conditions and decision-making processes” (Holifield, 2012: 592).
With the evolution of the concept, its theoretical focus has shifted from the
redistribution of environmental burdens and benefits across society towards other
dimensions of justice, such as recognition and participation (see Schlosberg, 2007,
2013). Procedural environmental justice refers to people’s participation in environmental governance (Schlosberg, 2004). It also suggests that more democratic
and more participatory decision-making processes on environmental issues can
tackle the recognitional and distributive environmental injustices within society
142
R. C. Sayan and A. Kibaroğlu