Water governance and institutional change

Background

The notion of governance is getting increasing attention in public administration and policy science. For comparative studies on a particular policy sector in different states, countries or periods, understanding a policy sector in terms of the policy content (goals and instruments) is insufficient. The same applies if one must understand the context of policy making and implementation. The features of public authorities and target groups as well as the features of their actions and interactions are influenced by such aspects as the administrative capacity available for policy implementation, the different problem perceptions being at stake, the positions and links of actors in policy networks or arenas, and the relationship between different administrative levels.

Objectives

This project develops a model of governance and uses it to facilitate comparative research on governance systems. Five elements of governance are identified: levels of governance; actors in the policy network; problem perception and objectives; strategy and instruments; as well as responsibilities and resources for implementation. Also the dynamics of such a governance system are explored by looking at mechanisms for institutional change. The model is applied to compare the governance systems for groundwater and drinking water protection in Florida and the Netherlands. More specifically, the research looks at the protection against nitrates and pesticides used in agriculture and which, via the groundwater, can cause contamination of the drinking water supply. The question that is examined is the extent to which different states with similar policy problems develop a similar policy response, the extent of these differences, and how these differences can be explained by the mechanisms which determine a governance system.

Furthermore, the developed model of governance is used to explore the long-term evolution of water governance in the Netherlands. The Dutch evolution is compared with the changes in five other European countries (Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland). The transitions in water policies water rights are identified and, and the conditions that have triggered these transitions towards more sustainable water management have been investigated. This won’t only be an analysis of the public domain—the shifting balance between private and public property rights is also considered to be important for understanding the late 20^th century debate on the privatisation of water services.