Economy-oriented and Localized Industrial Pollution: Villagers’ Logic of Action Facing Industrial Pollution in a Village Southwest of China

Authors

  • Yunmei Wu Sociology Department of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, # 577 Huanchengxilu, Kunming, Yunnan Province
  • Anan Lora-Wainwright University Lecturer in the Human Geography of China, School of Geography and School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
  • Yiyun Zhang Yunnan Health and Development Research Association, Yinhaishanshuijian 6-1-102, Dianchi Road, Kunming, Yunnan Province

Abstract

Based on a case study in a highly industrialized village Southwest of China, this
paper analyzes villagers’ logic of action facing industrial pollution. In field work,
anthropological research methods, such as in-depth interview and participant
observation, are employed. A main principle of not using any leading question is strictly
followed, considering pollution is a sensitive issue and a leading question about
pollution easily leads to a general answer. The research finds that several factors, such
as villager’s discourse of development and pollution, local politics, understanding of
news media, specialty of health issue, influence villagers’ perception and action towards
the pollution they are facing with. Those factors interact and make industrial pollution
an “inevitable reality”. As a result, the strategy villagers make is to localize industrial
pollution problem and seek for economic benefit as much as possible.


Keywords: Industrial Pollution, Logic of Action, Localization, Southwest of China

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How to Cite

Wu, Y., Lora-Wainwright, A., & Zhang, Y. (2015). Economy-oriented and Localized Industrial Pollution: Villagers’ Logic of Action Facing Industrial Pollution in a Village Southwest of China. Thammasat Review, 16(1), 41–61. Retrieved from https://sc01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tureview/article/view/40777

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2013): January-June

Section

Articles

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