ABSTRACT
The introductory chapter of the Routledge Handbook of Water and Development explores what we refer to as the water–development nexus and sets the stage for the rest of the volume. The chapter presents the rationale and aim behind the Handbook, which is to provide a systematic, wide-ranging and state-of-the-art guide to the diverse links between water and development in time, space and across disciplines. It also provides an overview of various approaches to development and water–society relations that are relevant for any investigation of the role of water in human and societal development. In relation to development, these include classical, post-development and global development approaches, while the approaches to water–society relations that are discussed range from hydrosocial research, hydro-sociology and socio-hydrology to hydropolitics, water security and policy-oriented approaches. In addition, the chapter outlines the different ways in which the various contributions to the Handbook – which have been organized into four sections on theories, case studies, governance mechanisms and themes and issues – explore the water–development nexus. Finally, in the last section of this introductory chapter, we paint a broad picture of future challenges linked to water and development and how we see the role of this Handbook in relation to those challenges.
