Coming Events

Fifth World Water Forum

Date: March 17, 2009
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
   

 

Forum President George Anderson will present a paper on “Managing Water in Federations” at the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul.

The presentation provides an overview of the varied nature of federalism.  It sketches the particular challenges of managing water in federal systems, as opposed to in unitary regimes on the one hand and in international situations on the other.  The challenge of water management in federations is also contrasted with that of other natural resources.  There is an outline of how different federations have come at the allocation of powers relating to water and river basin management and then a consideration of different approaches to dealing with waters that cross boundaries within the federation.  It touches on some interesting innovations.  The paper suggests the need for a rounded view that integrates legal, administrative, policy and political perspectives.  The paper draws out issues of comparative federalism as it relates to water management for an audience whose primary expertise is in water management, not federalism.