Development-induced displacement, adaptation and mobility in Cambodia

Abstract

Human mobility as an adaptation strategy for people displaced by development projects is not adequately explored in existing studies. This paper considers how emerging understandings of mobility and adaptation can improve resettlement planning in the development context. Understanding new forms of mobility has the potential to reduce the negative impacts of resettlement. The paper draws on fieldwork with people displaced by the Cambodian Railway Project who use a range of strategies to cope with the complex and uneven impacts of resettlement, including returning intermittently to previous locations and engaging in transient migration within and beyond Cambodia to maintain and extend livelihoods. Yet, many ‘mobile’ resettlers also face regulatory limitations affecting their mobility. Residency in the resettlement sites is a requirement for receiving land title, a much sought after asset in rapidly developing Cambodia which enables access to credit and other forms of financial and physical security. Being mobile to take advantage of diverse livelihood opportunities is nonetheless crucial for survival. Within the multiple objectives of resettlement, new strategies may facilitate, rather than limit, mobility as an adaptive response, without undermining other aspects of urban planning.

Keywords:

• adaptation
• displacement
• community relocation
• migration
• mobility
• resettlement

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The research was supported by a 2013 Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Award, administered by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science and Tertiary Education (DIICCSRTE) under Award Number: 3563, and with the support of Oxfam Australia in Cambodia.