Negotiating Resettlements: How Social Science Experts Shaped Dam Construction and the Displacement of Alpine Communities in Switzerland and Italy, 1940–1970

This article delves into the multifaceted roles of social science experts in negotiating resettlements in the Alps between 1940 and 1970, particularly focusing on dam construction projects in Switzerland and Italy. While the construction and maintenance of dams typically involve geologists, engineers and hydrologists, the presence of social science experts becomes crucial when dams are built in inhabited valleys, necessitating the management of resource distribution and community displacement. By examining case studies in the Swiss canton of Grisons and the Italian region of Trentino-South Tyrol / Alto Adige, this study explores the negotiation processes, motivations and strategies of various actors involved. Drawing from primary sources such as expert reports and project documents, as well as secondary sources including publications and theses, this study sheds light on the intersection of social sciences and dam construction, revealing the dynamics of power, expertise and technocratic convictions that shaped resettlement negotiations under the auspices of high modernism.