I've listed below various topics relating to general aspects of dams and development, that could serve as the basis for student essays or other forms of further work: The structure of public discussion (including the role of the media) concerning national development objectives The interaction between development and human rights Relationships between centres of power and periphery/hinterland within nations (as defined in geographic, economic, and political terms) Role of non-state entities in society (civic society) -- on several dimensions, and the varying (sometimes complementary) roles of local, national and international NGOs Contrasting perspectives on economic development: as driven by international investment and aspirations of integration in global economy; vs. reliance on local sources of capital, addressing local/regional markets The interaction between development and aid objectives of northern nations, and the export aspirations of the northern private sector The interaction between development perspectives and perspectives on nature, and on human-nature relations The place of indigenous peoples in national economic/political systems The role of the legislative/legal apparatus (e.g., environmental regulations) in decisions about development The significance of economic development as an expression of nationalist aspirations The interaction between national economic priorities and international economic factors such as private sector investment decisions The process by which national economic priorities are defined, in relation to political/economic power structures The role of expertise (especially scientific) in decisions about development