The political economy of 2015 Nepal earthquake

Some critical reflections

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12337139
AutoresKapil Dev Regmi (0000-0002-3130-0167, University of British Columbia, autor correspondente)
Ano2016
Volume33
Fascículo2
Páginas77-96
Data de publicação2016-07-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAsian Geographer (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1022-5706 • E-ISSN: 2158-1762
EditoraRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10225706.2016.1235053
OpenAlexW2524781129
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13
Referências citadas32

A massive earthquake of 7.6 magnitudes on 25 April 2015 and a major aftershock of 6.8 magnitudes on 12 May 2015 hit central Nepal. The earthquake took the lives of about 9000 people, injured about 24,000 and affected one-third of Nepal’s total population (28 million). Despite a huge amount of money (US$ 4.4 billion) pledged by the international community, reconstruction works could not take place on time. Using participatory approach to reconstruction and development as a theoretical framework and reflexivity as a methodological tool, this paper argues that the delay in reconstruction was caused by the inability of the Government of Nepal (GON) as well as the international community, mainly donors, to encourage local participation. The amount of loan pledged by the international community has increased Nepal’s debt stock rather than really helping those who are affected by the disaster. The paper concludes that the modernist top-down model of development – that both government and donors take for granted – has created roadblocks towards understanding Nepal’s contextual realities. Sustainable reconstruction and development cannot be achieved without strengthening the capability of local communities

Aftershock · Business · Citizen journalism · Civil engineering · Debt · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Government (linguistics · International community · Loan · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Population · Sociology · Sustainable development · Engineering · International Development and Aid · Island Studies and Pacific Affairs · Law · Sociopolitical Dynamics in Nepal · Finance