ABSTRACT The paper examines the applicability of the recommendations made by the World Commission... more ABSTRACT The paper examines the applicability of the recommendations made by the World Commission on Dams (WCD) in the context of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA). The WCD recommendations are desirable and can be used to solve some of the social and environmental problems associated with the construction of large dams. However, it is difficult to apply them to Japanese ODA projects unless further methodological and institutional developments are made. Special attention is given here to the issue of “comprehensive options assessment,” which is to be applied to development studies (pre-feasibility and feasibility studies) conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In reviewing the WCD recommendations, the authors identify some strengths and weaknesses of the proposed strategic priority of “comprehensive options assessment.” After empirically analyzing the 65 reports on feasibility studies for dam construction projects conducted by the JICA during the period from 1975 to 2001, the authors argue that the policy and institutional settings for Japan's ODA impede, rather than promote, “comprehensive options assessment.” Some policy implications for Japan's ODA are drawn from the analysis.
A widely cited contextual algorithm for fire pixel detection was applied to NOAA-AVHRR data of In... more A widely cited contextual algorithm for fire pixel detection was applied to NOAA-AVHRR data of Indonesia acquired during the severe fire season of 1997. The contextual algorithm tended to underestimate the number of fire pixels. Many fire pixels which could be identified ...
The impact of large dam construction projects on the human environment, and particularly on reset... more The impact of large dam construction projects on the human environment, and particularly on resettlers, is often the main reason for opposition toward large dam construction projects. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) published its only and final report 'Dams and Development' in November 2000. The report contains a set of 26 guidelines. The WCD itself mentioned that the guidelines are not intended as a blueprint, and that these should be used as a starting point for discussion. Despite the clarification by the WCD, some non-governmental organizations argue that these guidelines must be immediately adopted for all future large dam projects. The authors assume that only several of these guidelines are operational and many of these are either too experimental or theoretical to be put into use. Furthermore, some seemingly 'ready for operation' guidelines still need to be enhanced to be really operational in the real world. About 2000 large dams were constructed in Japan after World War II. Various principles and mechanisms were then developed to better address the issues related to involuntary resettlement. The knowledge accumulated through large dam construction projects in Japan may be applied to other countries. The aim of this paper is to identify the lessons, out of the experiences gained in Japan through large dam construction projects in the past, which could be applicable for future large dam construction projects in other nations. The socioeconomic setting, as well as the legal framework, in Japan differs much from those in the developing world. Nevertheless, the following aspects of the experiences gained in Japan are found to be both applicable and useful for future large dam construction projects abroad: (a) integrity of community in the negotiation process, (b) provision of alternative occupations, (c) funding mechanism in the post-project period, (d) measures needed during planning process; and (e) making resettlers 'shareholders'. These lessons may prove useful to enhance the WCD guidelines. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 2001
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) by various sectors for development activities still needs o... more Environmental impact assessment (EIA) by various sectors for development activities still needs operational guidelines to avoid failures. The High Aswan Dam in Egypt and the Calaca Thermal Power Plant in the Philippines were examined to delineate lessons. Three sorts of methodological failures were identified in these cases, although they differ in many aspects. They are (1) preoccupation with the previous case, (2) oversimplified assumptions about cause and effect, and (3) lack of a holistic viewpoint. These cases were also influenced by political biases, which led to inappropriate assessment methodologies and, subsequently, to erroneous conclusions. Care should be taken to avoid these universal failures in carrying out an assessment.
International Journal of Water Resources Development, 1999
Forced population displacement caused by dam construction has been regarded as the m ost serious ... more Forced population displacement caused by dam construction has been regarded as the m ost serious issue of water resources development.Nevertheless,the best practice is still not yet established. This paper aim s to examine the performance of the involuntary resettlement scheme applied to the Cirata Dam project in Indonesia to obtain clues for im provement. Aquaculture development in the reservoir succeeded in creating new jobs for resettlers. M ost resettlers ended up with less farm land than they had prev iously owing to the increase in land price. The land-for-land compensation scheme is preferable to cash com pensation. Participation of resettlers in the planning and im plementation of the resettlement scheme still had room for im provement. Some intermediate mechanism, between villagers and those im plementing the resettlement scheme, should be devised. M ore careful and stream lined efforts should h ave been made as regards the secondary development of the project, so that those displaced could enjoy the bene® ts.
Turkish policy towards the Syrian civil war, as operationalized in relation to the implementation... more Turkish policy towards the Syrian civil war, as operationalized in relation to the implementation of no-fly zones, safe zones or buffer zones, has been the subject of much debate among scholars. As the number of foreign states acting in Syria has steadily increased since the onset of the crisis, Turkish policies have similarly shifted. In order to make sense of Turkey’s actions and reactions in the first five years of the Syrian civil war, this article attempts to draw lessons from quantitative methods and methodologies such as text mining, cosine similarity and cosine normalization of content from the Anadolu Agency (AA), a Turkish state-owned press. These methodologies are utilized in support of content analysis and qualitative analysis that hindsight allows. In doing so, we are able to show that these seemingly inexplicable shifts may adhere to a logic and, in some cases, could have been anticipated. Utilizing such methodologies therefore offers a potentially significant contribution to the literature by defining politically feasible outcomes related to foreign or domestic policies.
ABSTRACT The paper examines the applicability of the recommendations made by the World Commission... more ABSTRACT The paper examines the applicability of the recommendations made by the World Commission on Dams (WCD) in the context of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA). The WCD recommendations are desirable and can be used to solve some of the social and environmental problems associated with the construction of large dams. However, it is difficult to apply them to Japanese ODA projects unless further methodological and institutional developments are made. Special attention is given here to the issue of “comprehensive options assessment,” which is to be applied to development studies (pre-feasibility and feasibility studies) conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In reviewing the WCD recommendations, the authors identify some strengths and weaknesses of the proposed strategic priority of “comprehensive options assessment.” After empirically analyzing the 65 reports on feasibility studies for dam construction projects conducted by the JICA during the period from 1975 to 2001, the authors argue that the policy and institutional settings for Japan's ODA impede, rather than promote, “comprehensive options assessment.” Some policy implications for Japan's ODA are drawn from the analysis.
A widely cited contextual algorithm for fire pixel detection was applied to NOAA-AVHRR data of In... more A widely cited contextual algorithm for fire pixel detection was applied to NOAA-AVHRR data of Indonesia acquired during the severe fire season of 1997. The contextual algorithm tended to underestimate the number of fire pixels. Many fire pixels which could be identified ...
The impact of large dam construction projects on the human environment, and particularly on reset... more The impact of large dam construction projects on the human environment, and particularly on resettlers, is often the main reason for opposition toward large dam construction projects. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) published its only and final report 'Dams and Development' in November 2000. The report contains a set of 26 guidelines. The WCD itself mentioned that the guidelines are not intended as a blueprint, and that these should be used as a starting point for discussion. Despite the clarification by the WCD, some non-governmental organizations argue that these guidelines must be immediately adopted for all future large dam projects. The authors assume that only several of these guidelines are operational and many of these are either too experimental or theoretical to be put into use. Furthermore, some seemingly 'ready for operation' guidelines still need to be enhanced to be really operational in the real world. About 2000 large dams were constructed in Japan after World War II. Various principles and mechanisms were then developed to better address the issues related to involuntary resettlement. The knowledge accumulated through large dam construction projects in Japan may be applied to other countries. The aim of this paper is to identify the lessons, out of the experiences gained in Japan through large dam construction projects in the past, which could be applicable for future large dam construction projects in other nations. The socioeconomic setting, as well as the legal framework, in Japan differs much from those in the developing world. Nevertheless, the following aspects of the experiences gained in Japan are found to be both applicable and useful for future large dam construction projects abroad: (a) integrity of community in the negotiation process, (b) provision of alternative occupations, (c) funding mechanism in the post-project period, (d) measures needed during planning process; and (e) making resettlers 'shareholders'. These lessons may prove useful to enhance the WCD guidelines. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 2001
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) by various sectors for development activities still needs o... more Environmental impact assessment (EIA) by various sectors for development activities still needs operational guidelines to avoid failures. The High Aswan Dam in Egypt and the Calaca Thermal Power Plant in the Philippines were examined to delineate lessons. Three sorts of methodological failures were identified in these cases, although they differ in many aspects. They are (1) preoccupation with the previous case, (2) oversimplified assumptions about cause and effect, and (3) lack of a holistic viewpoint. These cases were also influenced by political biases, which led to inappropriate assessment methodologies and, subsequently, to erroneous conclusions. Care should be taken to avoid these universal failures in carrying out an assessment.
International Journal of Water Resources Development, 1999
Forced population displacement caused by dam construction has been regarded as the m ost serious ... more Forced population displacement caused by dam construction has been regarded as the m ost serious issue of water resources development.Nevertheless,the best practice is still not yet established. This paper aim s to examine the performance of the involuntary resettlement scheme applied to the Cirata Dam project in Indonesia to obtain clues for im provement. Aquaculture development in the reservoir succeeded in creating new jobs for resettlers. M ost resettlers ended up with less farm land than they had prev iously owing to the increase in land price. The land-for-land compensation scheme is preferable to cash com pensation. Participation of resettlers in the planning and im plementation of the resettlement scheme still had room for im provement. Some intermediate mechanism, between villagers and those im plementing the resettlement scheme, should be devised. M ore careful and stream lined efforts should h ave been made as regards the secondary development of the project, so that those displaced could enjoy the bene® ts.
Turkish policy towards the Syrian civil war, as operationalized in relation to the implementation... more Turkish policy towards the Syrian civil war, as operationalized in relation to the implementation of no-fly zones, safe zones or buffer zones, has been the subject of much debate among scholars. As the number of foreign states acting in Syria has steadily increased since the onset of the crisis, Turkish policies have similarly shifted. In order to make sense of Turkey’s actions and reactions in the first five years of the Syrian civil war, this article attempts to draw lessons from quantitative methods and methodologies such as text mining, cosine similarity and cosine normalization of content from the Anadolu Agency (AA), a Turkish state-owned press. These methodologies are utilized in support of content analysis and qualitative analysis that hindsight allows. In doing so, we are able to show that these seemingly inexplicable shifts may adhere to a logic and, in some cases, could have been anticipated. Utilizing such methodologies therefore offers a potentially significant contribution to the literature by defining politically feasible outcomes related to foreign or domestic policies.
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Papers by M. Nakayama