Special Topics in Water Governance

Each year this course will investigate the concept of water governance through a different case study or theme. Water governance will be considered across its hydrological, regulatory, financial, social and cultural dimensions and discussed in the context of subjects such as water markets, fiscal federalism, infrastructure and project assessment, displacement and resettlement resulting from large infrastructure projects, public participation, auditing and reporting frameworks, dam decommissioning, environmental rehabilitation, reform strategies, benefit sharing across borders and conflict management. A major theme will be examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the many water-focussed disciplines, skills and techniques that have been developed by researchers and practitioners to improve water governance. Challenges take many forms but central are political questions that highlight the importance of cultural values, institutional design and governance. How are problems defined? Who dominates decision making? Answers frequently reveal powerful path dependencies – often involving state capture by vested interests. The aim is to build student skills as researchers, policy makers, managers and agents of change.