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Governing Iberian Rivers: from bilateral management to common basin governance?

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  • Paula Lopes

Abstract

Traditionally, international water resources have been managed by riparian states based essentially on a technical hydraulic approach, addressing navigation concerns, water flows at the border and shared hydraulic structures, besides the definition of political borders. During the 1990s, the possibility of a paradigm change emerged, where a “technical hydraulic management approach” seemed to be giving way to a more “political environmental governance approach”. Yet, in many cases, this change did not ensue. This article argues that several riparians are trapped in stalemate due to a too strong sovereign approach to their water relations. Adopting a critical perspective on hydro-hegemony, this article argues that this framework of analysis is too limited since it is embedded in a Westphalian concept of sovereignty. To support this argument, the article draws on the Iberian Peninsula water politics. These riparians are still embedded in notions of territorial sovereignty, not being able to take on a holistic water basin governance regime embedded on considerations of equity, human rights and social justice. The article concludes that it is vital to move beyond a static sovereignty-based analysis of riparian relations and engage in a dynamic discussion of different water governance models and their consequences concerning peace and development. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

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  • Paula Lopes, 2012. "Governing Iberian Rivers: from bilateral management to common basin governance?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 251-268, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:12:y:2012:i:3:p:251-268
    DOI: 10.1007/s10784-012-9175-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Zeitoun & Naho Mirumachi & Jeroen Warner, 2011. "Transboundary water interaction II: the influence of ‘soft’ power," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 159-178, May.
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    5. Neda Zawahri & Oliver Hensengerth, 2012. "Domestic environmental activists and the governance of the Ganges and Mekong Rivers in India and China," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 269-298, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hussam Hussein & Mattia Grandi, 2017. "Dynamic political contexts and power asymmetries: the cases of the Blue Nile and the Yarmouk Rivers," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 795-814, December.
    2. Neda Zawahri & Oliver Hensengerth, 2012. "Domestic environmental activists and the governance of the Ganges and Mekong Rivers in India and China," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 269-298, September.
    3. Naho Mirumachi & Margot Hurlbert, 2022. "Reflecting on twenty years of international agreements concerning water governance: insights and key learning," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 317-332, June.

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