Dam controversies: contested governance and developmental discourse on the Ethiopian Omo River dam

The construction of the Ethiopian Omo River dam reveals deeply contested narratives around development and governance, exposing irreconcilable tensions among stakeholders. This study highlights how technocratic discourses claiming neutrality clash with culturally grounded socio-economic perspectives, shedding light on precarious citizenship and coercive state consolidation in Ethiopia. By analyzing discursive positions through an anthropological lens, the research connects local debates to broader themes of statecraft and developmental discourse in mega-infrastructure projects.

Abbink, J. (2012). Dam controversies: contested governance and developmental discourse on the Ethiopian Omo River dam. Social Anthropology, 20(2), 125–144. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8676.2012.00196.x