ABSTRACT
In these times of growing scarcity and competition regarding access to water resources in the Andean region, water control – and in particular water rights – have become pivotal issues in the day-to-day struggle of local communities and indigenous and peasant organizations to defend their livelihoods and secure their future. Water in Andean communities is often a very powerful resource. Apart from being a foundation for productive, social and religious practice and local identity, the particular collective nature of water almost by definition forces people to build strong organizations: in most cases, the resource can be managed only by means of day-to-day collective action. Collaboration, instead of competition, is the only way to survive and secure water rights in this extremely adverse environment.
