"Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink": An exploration of the lack of a formal global water governance regime.
Newton, Joshua.
2014
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Abstract: Global water governance has only recently emerged as a focus of
study. This is in large part due to a lack of recognition of the importance of water at
the global level, because historically water has always been dealt with at the local,
national and basin levels. Global processes impact water use in basins more today than
ever before. Because of g... read morelobalization, there is increasing mutual interdependencies
between states and their water resources and increased competition over resources due to
growing populations and economic development. Global water governance will be an important
factor in addressing water issues in the future as it has the ability to optimize water
resource use through coordination, stewardship and knowledge exchange. While global water
governance exists informally through a patchwork of principles, practice and actors, why
does a more formal global water governance regime not exist? Could a more formal global
water governance regime help address the emerging global water crisis? To answer these
questions, interviews were conducted with over 130 water professionals from international
organizations, governments, NGOs and the private sector, exploring the influence and
impacts of events, organizations and issues on the trajectory of global water governance.
Through their experiences in and perceptions of the current global water situation, a view
emerged of how the world has arrived at the fragmented, piecemeal governance system that
exists for water. Water, a means to many ends, is not an easy resource to govern because
it serves many purposes and does not respect political borders yet is viewed by many as a
key to national security. Issues of sovereignty and competition, both at international and
organizational levels, dominate the water community and combined with the complex nature
of water, lack of leadership and how water has been dealt with through a sectoral
approach, the world has yet to come together in a cohesive, coordinated manner to address
the emerging global water crisis. A qualitative analysis of the interviews showed that
water governance at the global level should not aim to create a single UN agency for water
or a global water convention, but to "enhance the patchwork" through capitalizing on the
increasing convergence and coordination in the water community and on key issues and
priorities that has occurred through the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, that can
lead to a flexible, comprehensive governance framework that optimizes action amongst
myriad actors.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2014.
Submitted to the Dept. of Diplomacy, History, and Politics.
Advisor: William Moomaw.
Committee: Kelly Sims Gallagher, and Aaron Wolf.
Keyword: International relations.read less - ID:
- tt44q001b
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