ABSTRACT Development policy and practice is replete with assumptions that local “communities” have both the willingness and capability to adapt to socio-environmental changes and become “resilient” to multiple old and new challenges. This paper analyzes socio-environmental change processes in a dynamic peri-urban context in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, and argues that unequal power relations between diverse actors and their differing interests refute notions of “collective action” and “community resilience.” Residents of peri-urban communities are diverse, have varying abilities and interests, and use different strategies and actions in response to complex socio-environmental changes. These differences reduce insecurities for some while reproducing inequalities for others. These interrelations at the local level are driven by wider socio-economic, political, and institutional processes that transcend community boundaries, interests, and benefits. In the face of these complexities, “community resilience” is an unviable, externally defined, and engineered goal, often at odds with the power discrepancies and heterogeneity found within actual communities. These findings suggest a need to pay attention to the social, economic, and political dynamics of socio-environmental changes that simultaneously shape local communities and their members’ abilities to respond to changes at various scales.

中文翻译：

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哪个社区，谁的韧性？对加德满都谷地城郊社区复原力的批判性思考

摘要 发展政策和实践充满了这样的假设，即当地“社区”既有意愿也有能力适应社会环境变化，并对多种新旧挑战变得“有弹性”。本文分析了尼泊尔加德满都谷地动态城郊环境中的社会环境变化过程，并认为不同参与者及其不同利益之间不平等的权力关系驳斥了“集体行动”和“社区复原力”的概念。城郊社区的居民是多样化的，具有不同的能力和兴趣，并使用不同的策略和行动来应对复杂的社会环境变化。这些差异减少了一些人的不安全感，同时又为另一些人带来了不平等。地方层面的这些相互关系是由超越社区界限、利益和利益的更广泛的社会经济、政治和制度过程驱动的。面对这些复杂性，“社区弹性”是一个不可行的、外部定义的和设计的目标，通常与实际社区中发现的权力差异和异质性不一致。这些发现表明，需要关注社会环境变化的社会、经济和政治动态，这些动态同时塑造了当地社区及其成员应对各种规模变化的能力。通常与实际社区内发现的权力差异和异质性不一致。这些发现表明，需要关注社会环境变化的社会、经济和政治动态，这些动态同时塑造了当地社区及其成员应对各种规模变化的能力。通常与实际社区内发现的权力差异和异质性不一致。这些发现表明，需要关注社会环境变化的社会、经济和政治动态，这些动态同时塑造了当地社区及其成员应对各种规模变化的能力。