Resettlement Governance in Large-Scale Urban Water Projects: A Policy Lifecycle Perspective from the Danjiangkou Reservoir Case in China

Using the Danjiangkou Reservoir resettlement as a case study, this research adopts a policy lifecycle perspective to examine the evolutionary mechanisms of livelihood transformation and institutional adaptation under large-scale hydraulic development. The findings reveal that China’s resettlement governance is not merely an economic practice of resource redistribution and livelihood reconstruction but a deeper process of institutional learning and social reconfiguration. The transformation of Danjiangkou migrants—from administrative dependence to self-organized recovery and finally to development empowerment—reflects a structural shift in governance logic from control-oriented mobilization to collaborative and inclusive modernization. The study elucidates the dynamic interaction between institutional supply and social agency, arguing that the state acts not only as a resource provider but as an institutional recalibrator that fosters endogenous governance capacity through social self-organization. The identity transformation of migrants—from excluded subjects to integrated citizens—demonstrates that recognition, participation, and social capital are central to achieving social justice and sustainable governance. Practically, sustainable resettlement requires institutional flexibility and social empowerment, emphasizing long-term capacity building over short-term relief. The Danjiangkou experience reveals the deeper logic of Chinese modernization—a transition from control to collaboration, from survival to development, and from outsiders to citizens—offering valuable insights for equitable and resilient resettlement governance.