Destined to Succeed or Doomed to Fail? The Social Dynamics of Renewable Energy in Village Life in Ladakh

Autumn Rose, Eastern Kentucky University

Tibet/Bhutan: Tibetan and Himalayan Studies

Abstract

Social dynamics are the most powerful factor affecting the success or failure of a micro hydro system in Ladakh. This is not limited to social dynamics amongst villagers, but also includes the social status and background of villagers. Through my visits to five villages in the Ladakh region, I will seek to identify those factors which have fostered a successful renewable energy system and which have led to system failures.