Water governance in Latin America

Claudia Diaz-Combs, Ainhoa Mingolarra-Garaizar, Tom Perreault

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemChapter

Abstract

This chapter takes a political ecology approach to questions of water governance in Latin America. The chapter emphasizes the uneven access to water in Latin America, and the ways that this impacts the poorest and most marginalized communities. Far from being a merely technocratic problem (with a technical solution), the chapter argues that inequity in water access fundamentally involves relations of political, economic and social power. The chapter begins with a brief discussion of the concept of water governance and its evolution in Latin America. This is followed by a consideration of the role that water governance has played in shaping modern Latin American development. The chapter then examines specific forms of water governance, including dam building, urban drinking water and sanitation systems (and their privatization), irrigation and water users’ associations, and the impacts of resource extraction on water quality, quantity and access.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHandbook on the Governance and Politics of Water Resources
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
Pages261-273
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9781800887909
ISBN (Print)9781800887893
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2024

Keywords

  • Extractive industries
  • Latin America
  • Rural water governance
  • Transboundary water governance
  • Urban water governance
  • Water privatization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • General Environmental Science

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