Handbook on the Governance and Politics of Water Resources

This cutting-edge Handbook provides a global perspective on the current issues affecting water politics and governance. Focusing in particular on the policy-making process and the power dynamics that it involves, it showcases the emerging diversity of objectives, instruments and governance approaches in the field of water resources.

Responding to the increasing strain on water resources due to anthropogenic climate change, this Handbook examines the water policy-making process at the local, regional, national and supranational level. It discusses modes of regulatory intervention, the role of state and non-state actors, and methods for collaboration on issues concerning water. Contributing authors systematically examine how different forms of water are and should be governed, addressing floods, river deltas, surface water and groundwater. Ultimately, the Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of key theoretical approaches, empirical findings and methodological standards in the field of water politics and governance.



This Handbook is an invaluable guide for students and scholars of public policy, human geography, environmental management, and sustainability governance. It is also a useful resource for water policy-makers seeking to better understand their position in the global water management system.