Understanding emergent participation practices in water governance

Arwin Van Buuren,Ingmar Van Meerkerk,Cecilia Tortajada

doi:10.1080/07900627.2019.1585764

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis introductory article discusses the proliferation of different forms of participation in water governance. It is argued that creating public value through participation can only succeed when effective co-creation between public authorities and communities emerges. However, challenges to realizing co-creation are manifold, and differ among the various types of participation. In this respect, we introduce a typology of different forms of participation, based on the distinction between top-down (invited) and bottom-up (created) participation. We use this distinction to analyze different dynamics in participatory water governance and to delve deeper into the dilemmas and trade-offs. Lastly, the various contributions to this special issue are introduced.

Highlights

Arwin van Buuren a, Ingmar van Meerkerk a and Cecilia Tortajada b aErasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; bInstitute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore ABSTRACTThis introductory article discusses the proliferation of different forms of participation in water governance
The various contributions in this special issue show that in most of the described cases, actors come to a form of collaboration or partnership, whether through invited participation or in created spaces of participation
We can redefine the challenge of participation in water governance as the challenge to come to effective co-creation of public value

Summary

Introduction

We discuss various barriers and conditions for fruitful interaction between public water authorities and stakeholders (either citizens or societal and private actors) in relation to invited and created spaces of participation. The various contributions in this special issue show that in most of the described cases, actors come to a form of collaboration or partnership, whether through invited participation or in created spaces of participation.

Results

Conclusion