Integrated and participatory analysis of water governance regimes: The case of the Costa Rican dry tropics

Christopher Kuzdas, Arnim Wiek, Benjamin Warner, Raffaele Vignola, Ricardo Morataya

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    24 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    We present a comprehensive analysis of water governance in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Methods included interviews, workshops, and participatory processes. The study zooms in on water-related rules and regulations, people's actions, and the physical water system that people depend on. The results indicate complex governance problems and provide focal points for sustainable governance efforts. Focal points include: respecting scarcity and the limits of groundwater availability; building broad governance capacity; reconciling disenfranchised rural groups; and supporting creative local leadership. The study asserts the need for combining critical governance analysis with transformational and solution-oriented research in support of sustainable water governance efforts.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)254-268
    Number of pages15
    JournalWorld Development
    Volume66
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Feb 1 2015

    Keywords

    • Costa Rica
    • Latin America
    • Leadership
    • Polycentric systems
    • Social network analysis
    • Sustainable water governance

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Geography, Planning and Development
    • Development
    • Sociology and Political Science
    • Economics and Econometrics

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