As the world faces another water crisis, it is easy to understand why this precious and highly-disputed resource could determine the fate of entire nations. In reality, however, water conflicts rarely result in violence and more often lead to collaborative governance, however precarious.
In this comprehensive and accessible text, David Feldman introduces readers to the key issues, debates and challenges in water politics today. Its ten chapters explore the processes that determine how this unique resource captures our attention, the sources of power that determine how we allocate, use, and protect it, and the purposes that direct decisions over its cost, availability, and access. Drawing on contemporary water controversies from every continent to illustrate its arguments - from Flint, Michigan to Mumbai, India; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Beijing - this wide-ranging analysis will be an invaluable resource for students and policy-makers seeking to understand the multi-faceted nature of water politics across the world. Ultimately, the book argues that cooperation and more equitable water management are imperative if the global community is to adequately address water challenges and their associated risks, particularly in the developing world. While alternatives for enhancing water supply, including waste-water re-use, desalination, and conservation abound, without inclusive means of addressing citizens' concerns, their adoption faces severe hurdles that can impede cooperation and generate additional conflicts.
