The Transformation of a Frontier: State and Regional Relationships in Panama, 1972- 1990

Background

Following the trend of anthropologists that examine the settlement of frontier regions, this study describes the consequences of building the Bayano Hydroelectric Complex in eastern Panama. The authors stress that governments must not looked at as monolithic entities but instead should be examine as a set of social and political relationships among various stakeholders at local, national, and international scales. Along with documenting the social, political, and ecological effects that emerged from the dam, the study also describes the internal conflicts between agencies in the Panamanian government.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The study found that the dam caused the Bayano region of Panama to shift from a frontier zone to one that was closely tied to the country's metropolis. This has detrimental effects on the ecological of the region and exacerbatted socio-economic issues of the region's poor. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of these effects along with the efforts of officials to implement sustainable development, most of which failed.