(De)politicizing water: justice in times of water crisis
Henriette J. M. Schubert-Zunker * and Henrike Knappe
Department of Environmental Governance, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
In times of climate change, water resources are shrinking at an alarming speed
worldwide, making water a focal point of social and political contestation. Essential
for environmental and human wellbeing, and economic prosperity, competing
demands on water’s finite resources amidst the global water crisis raise critical justice
questions regarding allocation, accessibility, legitimate recipients, or prioritized
uses. Access to water is deeply intertwined with political decisions, as it heavily
depends on infrastructure and governance. Depoliticization, however, renders
water issues to technical or economic terms, aligning with neoliberal practices
that commodify and privatize water resources. This approach often neglects the
inherent political and social dimensions of water, privileging corporate interests
while restricting access for the poor and powerless. This article examines how
(de)politicization shapes such water realities by applying theoretical perspectives
on (de)politicization and environmental justice. Through a systematic literature
review and interpretative content analysis, we explore how (de)politicization is
conceptualized in scholarly discussions, identifying common themes in the water
context, the scales and regions addressed, and the roles of various actors and
actions involved. Our research reveals a persistent tension between depoliticization
and repoliticization. While depoliticization, though conceptually rather imprecise,
obscures accountability and perpetuates neoliberal practices leading to exclusion,
repoliticization, driven by activism, addresses policy deficiencies and amplifies
marginalized voices. By illuminating these dynamics, this study enhances the
understanding of (de)politicization in the water realm and its implications for justice.
KEYWORDS politicization, depoliticization, water, justice, neoliberalism, climate change, crisis
To read the full article please click on
^
(De)politicizing water: justice in times of water crisis
Henriette J. M. Schubert-Zunker * and Henrike Knappe
Department of Environmental Governance, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
In times of climate change, water resources are shrinking at an alarming speed
worldwide, making water a focal point of social and political contestation. Essential
for environmental and human wellbeing, and economic prosperity, competing
demands on water’s finite resources amidst the global water crisis raise critical justice
questions regarding allocation, accessibility, legitimate recipients, or prioritized
uses. Access to water is deeply intertwined with political decisions, as it heavily
depends on infrastructure and governance. Depoliticization, however, renders
water issues to technical or economic terms, aligning with neoliberal practices
that commodify and privatize water resources. This approach often neglects the
inherent political and social dimensions of water, privileging corporate interests
while restricting access for the poor and powerless. This article examines how
(de)politicization shapes such water realities by applying theoretical perspectives
on (de)politicization and environmental justice. Through a systematic literature
review and interpretative content analysis, we explore how (de)politicization is
conceptualized in scholarly discussions, identifying common themes in the water
context, the scales and regions addressed, and the roles of various actors and
actions involved. Our research reveals a persistent tension between depoliticization
and repoliticization. While depoliticization, though conceptually rather imprecise,
obscures accountability and perpetuates neoliberal practices leading to exclusion,
repoliticization, driven by activism, addresses policy deficiencies and amplifies
marginalized voices. By illuminating these dynamics, this study enhances the
understanding of (de)politicization in the water realm and its implications for justice.
KEYWORDS politicization, depoliticization, water, justice, neoliberalism, climate change, crisis
To read the full article please click on
^
