Introduction

This book interrogates the prevalent wisdom of the day with respect to water governance by focusing attention on three major concepts and approaches that have gained currency in policy and governance circles, both globally and regionally: scarcity and crisis, marketization and privatization, and participation. The book examines these dominant, or hegemonic, concepts to better understand their political, economic and scientific rationale, as well as to open up lines of inquiry with respect to alternative modes of water governance. It explores how these dominant discourses and practices inform one another as well as the contradictions, harmonies and disharmonies among them. These knowledges and aptitudes are not the exclusive domain of academics or transnational networks of water professionals. Individuals and communities throughout the world are engaged in a range of activities to advocate for, and contribute to, more equitable and sustainable systems of water use. This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.