Week 1, lecture 2: Water politics and critical perspectives

Question 1

Provide a definition of the term water governance

Answer 1

Water governance refers to the processes, structures, and decision-making mechanisms through which societies manage their water resources. It involves a set of policies, institutions, and practices that aim to ensure sustainable and equitable use of water for various purposes, including domestic, agricultural, industrial, and environmental needs.

Question 2

What kind of issues does water governance address?

Answer 2

Issues such as water scarcity, pollution, and the allocation of water resources.

Question 3

What kind of things does water governance try to balance?

Answer 3

Seeking to balance economic, social, and environmental considerations.

Question 4

Please discuss the role that water governance has played historically in State
formation and social organisation

Answer 4

Throughout history, access to water has played a crucial role in the development of civilizations. Societies have often organised themselves around water sources, and the ability to control and manage water resources has been a key factor in the establishment and consolidation of states. The control of water resources has also been a source of power, influencing social hierarchies and political structures.

Question 5

What water related systems have been crucial to agricultural productivity and urban development?

Answer 5

Irrigation systems, water distribution networks, and water-related infrastructure

Question 6

• Please list and briefly define the 5 different perspectives that Woodhous and Muller
  (2017) refer to as approaches to water governance that emerged from their review
  Woodhouse and Muller (2017) identify five different perspectives or approaches to water governance based on their review

Answer 6

1. Hydraulic Mission
2. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
3. Hydro-Hegemony
4. Water Justice
5. Adaptive Water Governance

Question 7

What is meant by Hydraulic mission?

Answer 7

Focuses on large-scale water infrastructure projects aimed at transforming nature to meet societal needs. - Emphasises the control and manipulation of water for economic development and societal progress
-> contributes to economic growth and prosperity, but also leads to environmental degradation.

Question 8

What is meant by Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

Answer 8

Advocates for a holistic approach to water management that considers the interconnectedness of water resources, taking into account social, economic, and environmental factors. - Aims to achieve sustainable development by balancing competing water uses.

Question 9

What is meant by Hydro-Hegemony

Answer 9

Examines power relations in water management, emphasizing how powerful actors control and influence water resources for geopolitical and economic gains. - Highlights issues of inequality and the potential for conflict over water.

Question 10

What is meant by water justice?

Answer 10

Centers on the equitable distribution of water resources, ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable populations have access to clean and sufficient water. - Addresses social and environmental justice concerns in water governance.

Question 11

What is meant by adaptive water governance?

Answer 11

Recognizes the uncertainty and complexity of water systems, advocating for flexible and adaptive approaches to address changing conditions. - Emphasizes the importance of learning and adapting strategies over time to manage water sustainably.
These perspectives provide a nuanced understanding of the diverse ways in which societies approach water governance, reflecting different priorities, values, and challenges.

Question 12

According to the paper of Gupta, what are the main challenges regarding water governance?

Answer 12

1. Discussions on the complexities of negotiating agreements among different stakeholders
2. Addressing power imbalances between nations
3. Finding solutions that consider the interests and needs of different regions and communities.

Question 13

Where does water resource management focus on?

Answer 13

On “operational activities of monitoring and regulating water resources and their use”,

Question 14

What does the Dublin conference prescribe about integrated water resource management (IWRM)?

Answer 14

1. Water should be managed within the boundaries of natural hydrological units within river basins within which water was identified as renewable but finite (scarce)
2. Water should be treated as an economic good
3. Participative approaches had to be adopted within the boundaries of the river basin, this mixture constrains strategies to increase supply.

Question 15

Which 2 ideological positions does scarcity support?

Answer 15

1. It demands efficiency in water allocation: Scarcity leads to prioritising water uses based on economic benefits, where water is allocated to activities that contribute the most to the economy.
2. Scarcity advocates for minimizing human-induced changes to natural water systems, promoting conservation to sustain ecological health.

Question 16

Give a definition of governance

Answer 16

Governance refers to the overall system and processes by which a society or organization is directed, controlled, and regulated. It encompasses the structures, mechanisms, and practices through which decisions are made, authority is exercised, and actions are taken to achieve collective goals. Governance is not limited to governmental entities but extends to a broader context that involves various actors and levels of participation.

Question 17

What does governance include?

Answer 17

• Multi-Level Participation Beyond the State:
  Governance is a complex process that involves participation at multiple levels, not confined to the actions of a central government. It recognizes that decision-making and influence may occur at local, regional, national, and even global levels.
• Includes Public Institutions, Private Sector, Civil Society:
  A diverse set of actors beyond traditional government institutions. It includes public institutions, which are governmental bodies responsible for policy formulation and implementation. Additionally, the private sector, representing businesses and industries, plays a role in governance through economic activities. Civil society, comprising non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, and citizens, also contributes to governance through advocacy, participation, and holding institutions accountable.

Question 18

What are institutions?

Answer 18

In summary, institutions are diverse and multifaceted structures that play a fundamental role in shaping and organizing various aspects of human society. They can be formal or informal, covering a wide range of functions, from economic and political systems to cultural norms and organizations.

Question 19

What is environmental governance?

Answer 19

The totality of interactions among societal actors aimed at coordinating, steering and
regulating human access to, use of, and impacts on the environment

Question 20

Name the three hybrid forms of environmental governance

Answer 20

1. Co-management
2. Private-social partnerships
3. Public-private partnerships

Question 21

What is co-management (env. governance)

Answer 21

Between community and state where there is a collaborative and participatory approach to managing natural resources, where responsibility and decision-making authority are shared among different stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, (NGOs), and other relevant actors. The central idea is to involve multiple parties in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of environmental policies and practices to ensure more sustainable and equitable resource management. This approach recognizes the interdependence of ecological, social, and economic aspects of natural resource management.

Question 22

What is public-private partnership (env. governance)

Answer 22

Between market and state, PPPs involve the sharing of responsibilities, resources, risks, and benefits between the public and private sectors in the planning, implementation, and management of environmental projects or initiatives.

Question 23

What is private-social partnership (env. governance)

Answer 23

Private-social partnerships emphasize the delivery of tangible benefits to local communities. This may include job creation, improved infrastructure, environmental education, and other initiatives that enhance the well-being of community members.

Question 24

What are elements of the ‘old’ water governance approach?

Answer 24

• Government and
  bureaucracy
• Power monopoly
• Hierarchical control
• Enforcement of rules and
  regulations
• Top-down management
• Formal rules

Question 25

What are elements of the ‘new’ water governance approach?

Answer 25

 Less government authority
 Civil society and markets
 Diversity of actors
 Decentralization
 Networks
 Dialogue and partnership
 Participation and
negotiation

Question 26

What is meant by politics of scale?

Answer 26

The “politics of scale” refers to the ways in which decisions, power, and governance are organized and negotiated at different spatial levels or scales, ranging from the local to the global. It involves examining how the choice of scale influences political processes, policies, and the distribution of resources and authority. The concept recognizes that the scale at which decisions are made can significantly impact the outcomes and dynamics of political and social processes.

Question 27

What is meant by scaling-up in water governance?

Answer 27

Scaling up in water governance involves expanding or increasing the scope and reach of governance interventions from a smaller or local level to a larger or more extensive level. It often implies moving from local or community-based initiatives to regional, national, or even global scales.

Question 28

What is meant by scaling-down in water governance?

Answer 28

Scaling down, on the other hand, involves tailoring governance interventions to a smaller or more localized level. It is about decentralizing decision-making processes and policies to address issues at a finer spatial scale, such as community or sub-basin levels.

Question 29

What is economic water scarcity?

Answer 29

Economic water scarcity occurs when a region or country lacks the financial and human resources to adequately utilize available water resources or invest in water infrastructure, even though the physical water resources may be sufficient.

Question 30

What is physical water scarcity?

Answer 30

Physical water scarcity refers to a situation where the demand for water exceeds the available water resources in a region. It is a quantitative measure of insufficient water availability to meet the needs of the population and ecosystems.

Question 31

What is virtual water?

Answer 31

Virtual water is a concept that represents the hidden water embedded in the production and trade of goods and services. It refers to the total amount of water used in the entire production process of a commodity, including the water used in growing, processing, manufacturing, and transporting the product. The term was coined by Professor Tony Allan.

In essence, when a product is traded between countries or regions, the virtual water associated with that product is effectively transferred from the water-exporting region to the water-importing region. This concept is particularly relevant for understanding the global water footprint and the interconnections between water use, trade, and agriculture.

Question 32

What is a nested institution?

Answer 32

In this setup, the institution is the top level, and it has different departments. Each department, like Administration, is then broken down into specific teams (like Human Resources), and those teams can have even more detailed sections.

It helps everyone know who’s responsible for what and keeps things organized within the institution.