IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ieaple/v12y2012i3p251-268.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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

Suggested Citation

  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s10784-012-9175-0
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10784-012-9175-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    2. Jeroen Warner, 2012. "The struggle over Turkey’s Ilısu Dam: domestic and international security linkages," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 231-250, September.
    3. Jeroen Warner & Neda Zawahri, 2012. "Hegemony and asymmetry: multiple-chessboard games on transboundary rivers," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 215-229, September.
    4. 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.
    5. Diana Suhardiman & Mark Giordano, 2012. "Process-focused analysis in transboundary water governance research," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 299-308, September.
    6. Andrea Gerlak & Jonathan Lautze & Mark Giordano, 2011. "Water resources data and information exchange in transboundary water treaties," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 179-199, May.
    7. Turton, A. & Henwood, R., 2002. "Hydropolitics in the developing world: a southern African perspective," IWMI Books, Reports H030980, International Water Management Institute.
    8. Turton, A. & Henwood, R., 2002. "Hydropolitics in the developing world: a southern African perspective," IWMI Books, Reports H044409, International Water Management Institute.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    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. Jacob D. Petersen-Perlman & Itay Fischhendler, 2018. "The weakness of the strong: re-examining power in transboundary water dynamics," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 275-294, April.
    4. Joyeeta Gupta & Aarti Gupta & Courtney Vegelin, 2022. "Equity, justice and the SDGs: lessons learnt from two decades of INEA scholarship," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 393-409, June.
    5. Turpie, J.K. & Marais, C. & Blignaut, J.N., 2008. "The working for water programme: Evolution of a payments for ecosystem services mechanism that addresses both poverty and ecosystem service delivery in South Africa," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(4), pages 788-798, May.
    6. Molden, David & Sakthivadivel, Ramasamy & Samad, Madar & Burton, Martin, 2005. "Phases of river basin development: the need for adaptive institutions," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Castillo, G. E. & Namara, Regassa & Ravnborg, H. M. & Hanjra, M. A. & Smith, L. & Hussein, M. H. & Bene, Christopher & Cook, S. & Hirsch, D. & Polak, P. & Valee, Domitille & van Koppen, Barbara, 2007. "Reversing the flow: agricultural water management pathways for poverty reduction," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    8. van Heerden, Jan H. & Blignaut, James & Horridge, Mark, 2008. "Integrated water and economic modelling of the impacts of water market instruments on the South African economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 105-116, May.
    9. Pieter Zaag, 2007. "Asymmetry and Equity in Water Resources Management; Critical Institutional Issues for Southern Africa," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(12), pages 1993-2004, December.
    10. Daniel Connell, 2010. "Managing Climate Variability in Australia, South Africa, United States and Spain," Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy Papers 1012, Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    11. Inga Jacobs, 2012. "A community in the Orange: the development of a multi-level water governance framework in the Orange-Senqu River basin in Southern Africa," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 187-210, May.
    12. Mark Giordano & Diana Suhardiman & Jacob Peterson-Perlman, 2016. "Do hydrologic rigor and technological advance tell us more or less about transboundary water management?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 815-831, December.
    13. Zulfiya Suleimenova, 2020. "Water security in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 27(1), pages 75-93, June.
    14. Speelman, Stijn & D'Haese, Marijke F.C. & Buysse, Jeroen & D'Haese, Luc, 2007. "Technical efficiency of water use and its determinants, study at efficiencies in small-scale irrigation schemes in North-West Province, South Africa," 106th Seminar, October 25-27, 2007, Montpellier, France 7904, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Anders Jägerskog and David Phillips, 2006. "Managing Trans-boundary Waters for Human Development," Human Development Occasional Papers (1992-2007) HDOCPA-2006-08, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    16. Malzbender, D. & Goldin, J. & Turton, A. & Earle, A., 2005. "Traditional water governance and South Africa\u2019s \u201cNational Water Act\u201d: Tension or cooperation?," IWMI Books, Reports H038755, International Water Management Institute.
    17. Wester, P. & Scott, Christopher A. & Burton, Martin, 2005. "River basin closure and institutional change in Mexico’s Lerma-Chapala Basin," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    18. Ahmet Conker & Hussam Hussein, 2020. "Hydropolitics and issue-linkage along the Orontes River Basin: an analysis of the Lebanon–Syria and Syria–Turkey hydropolitical relations," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 103-121, March.
    19. E. Kistin & P. Ashton & A. Earle & D. Malzbender & M. Patrick & A. Turton, 2009. "An overview of the content and historical context of the international freshwater agreements that South Africa has entered into with neighbouring countries," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, February.
    20. Dik Roth & Jeroen Warner, 2008. "Virtual water: Virtuous impact? The unsteady state of virtual water," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 25(2), pages 257-270, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:12:y:2012:i:3:p:251-268. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.