ABSTRACT
Yet, due to the rapidly changing times we are currently immersed in, the lifespan of concepts and paradigms is also put to the test more qUickly. According to Kuhn (1962), scientific progress is the result of 'development by accumulation', i.e. when normal science is interrupted by periods of revolutionary science. The IWRM paradigm is therefore in a state of flux (GWP, 2012; L6pez-Gunn et aI., 2013). This chapter aims to identify new trends and directions, as well as potential changes in its conceptual basis, particularly from fast-emerging complementary concepts such as water security (GWP /TAC, 2000; Grey and Sadoff, 2007; Pochat, 2008; GWP, 2010; Cook and Bakker, 2012; UN Water, 2013) analysed in Chapter 6. Along these lines, are there enough anomalies in the IWRM paradigm to warrant major changes? This chapter will argue that in order to 'speed up' the implementation of IWRM it is fundamental to ask new questions about its main tenets. The chapter analyses and evaluates the main ingredients of the IWRM paradigm, looking at a) the integration of resources, b) of sectors and c) across organizations. IWRM acquires real added value once a series of clear and specific policy goals are set, e.g. those provided by water security or the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water (Sachs, 201 2) that in 2015 will effectively replace the merely target-oriented Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
