Work

How water sector reforms institutionalised domination and repression in Tunisia’s authoritarian regimes

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper analyses how water reforms in Tunisia’s authoritarian regimes came to shape mechanisms of domination, repression, and co-optation anchored in the everyday politics of water allocation and use. The historical study of the water-agriculture nexus in Tunisia (1950–2011) argues that the sector served as a practical and symbolic vehicle to legitimise, produce, and reinforce authoritarian practices and regimes. Drawing on the dialectic of the state and society, this analysis showcases the links between agricultural water governance and practices of state-building. Water policy- and decision-making are put in the context of past political agendas and social unrest, explaining underlying societal perceptions and motivations. On the basis of this analysis, this paper hopes to inspire modest and realistic policy reforms that strategically address contemporary legacy barriers to good water governance.

Source: Environment and Planning C Politics and Space

DOI: 10.1177/23996544241285647

Author: Sophie Bhalla

Institution: University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Water Governance and Infrastructure

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450