

Xiangli Ding, "Hydropower Nation: Dams, Energy, and Political Changes in Twentieth-Century China" (Cambridge UP, 2024)
Feb 15, 2025
Xiangli Ding, an associate professor of history specializing in modern China and environmental history, discusses his book, highlighting the dual nature of hydropower in China. He explores the historical evolution of dams, revealing their impact on landscapes and communities. The conversation delves into the human cost of hydropower development in the 1950s, emphasizing resettlement challenges. Ding also examines the interplay of energy, ecology, and political change, illustrating how infrastructure projects reshaped not just energy systems but also social dynamics.
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Hydro Power Nation: The Dynamics of Dams in China
02:02 • 15min
The Evolution of Hydropower in 20th Century China
17:24 • 3min
Hydropower Dynamics in China
19:56 • 12min
Resettlement and Suffering: The Human Cost of Hydropower Development in 1950s China
32:11 • 4min
Exploring Human Suffering and Infrastructure in Twentieth-Century China
36:35 • 2min
Exploring the Interconnection of Energy, Ecology, and Politics in China
38:22 • 2min