Overview

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world‘s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. In this authoritative Advanced Introduction, Ken Conca expertly examines the fundamentals of water politics, covering poverty, health and livelihoods alongside key areas such as water law, the environment, international politics and the growing role of climate change in water governance. Key features include: analysis of water politics and policy grounded in law, politics, economics, and environmental management a detailed overview of not only research and scholarship in the field but also the perspectives and activities of the community of practice examination of the major areas of contention in current water policy, including pricing and privatization, large dams and contentious infrastructure, water and climate adaptation, cooperation and conflict in international river basins, and the food-water-energy nexus. This book provides essential reading for scholars and students of political science, public policy, environment studies, human geography and related social sciences, in addition to decision makers and policy makers in the water and environmental policy fields.

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9781839102035

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Reviews

'This book is a must read for those wanting to understand the importance of water. While water is life, Conca reminds us that it is also highly political. In demonstrating the political challenges for governing water, Conca surveys such topics as the food-water-energy nexus, water justice and rights, water pricing, climate change adaptation, and water conflict and cooperation. Conca draws out timely lessons for managing future water politics.' -- Erika Weinthal, Duke University, North Carolina, US 'It is always a special treat when scholars at the peak of their career take the time to reflect deeply on their passions. Such is the case here, where Prof. Ken Conca writes what is nominally a survey of the past, present, and future of water politics and governance, but more accurately is the expression of his 30 years of experience observing and participating in hydropolitical decision-making around the world. As a ''pracademic'' who ''in the room'' more often than not, Conca can write with detail and nuance about settings from the Mekong to Flint, Michigan, and of policy tipping points from the Dublin Principles (1992) to the World Commission on Dams (2000) to the forecasts of the 2030 Water Resources Group (2009), all of which inform his thoughtful and (thankfully) optimistic projections for the future.' -- Aaron T. Wolf, Oregon State University, US 'Advanced Introduction to Water Politics is a masterful and comprehensive tour of the multiple ways in which water is political. Drawing on decades of outstanding research, Conca goes way beyond de rigeur accounts of water as an issue of national security, to explain the everyday politics of water at diverse scales, sectors, and locations. Retrospective and prospective, human and nuanced, this is a volume that anyone interested in the politics of water must read.' -- Jon Barnett, University of Melbourne, Australia

'It is always a special treat when scholars at the peak of their career take the time to reflect deeply on their passions. Such is the case here, where Prof. Ken Conca writes what is nominally a survey of the past, present, and future of water politics and governance, but more accurately is the expression of his 30 years of experience observing and participating in hydropolitical decisionmaking around the world. As a pracademic who in the room more often than not, Conca can write with detail and nuance about settings from the Mekong to Flint, Michigan, and of policy tipping points from the Dublin Principles (1992) to the World Commission on Dams (2000) to the forecasts of the 2030 Water Resources Group (2009), all of which inform his thoughtful and (thankfully) optimistic projections for the future.' -- Aaron T. Wolf, Oregon State University, US 'Advanced Introduction to Water Politics is a masterful and comprehensive tour of the multiple ways in which water is political. Drawing on decades of outstanding research, Conca goes way beyond de rigeur accounts of water as an issue of national security, to explain the everyday politics of water at diverse scales, sectors, and locations. Retrospective and prospective, human and nuanced, this is a volume that anyone interested in the politics of water must read.' -- Jon Barnett, University of Melbourne, Australia

Author Information

Ken Conca, Professor of International Relations, School of International Service, American University, US

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