Document Type : Other scientific contents
Authors
1
Department of Water Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
2
Water and Environment Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
3
Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
This study is presented to readers comprising an introduction, four valuable notes, and a conclusion. The first note, titled "What Is Integrated Water Resources Management? (Nature, Rationale, and Implementation)," elucidates the theoretical foundations of the "Integrated Water Resources Management" approach—a framework recognized globally (yet largely overlooked domestically) for sustainable water management. It demonstrates how a lack of integration in policymaking, management, and implementation has led to the duplication of efforts, the waste of resources, and the escalation of conflicts.
The second note, titled "Principles and Facets of Water Governance," presents an analytical framework for identifying and prioritizing the key factors of successful water governance. It identifies four facets—multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional, multidisciplinary, and multi-scale—as fundamental pillars of effective governance; elements that have largely been overlooked or inadequately addressed in Iran’s current water management system. In particular, the note emphasizes that to rectify the status quo, the "multi-dimensional" and "multi-scale" facets must be prioritized over the other two and serve as the foundation for policymaking.
The third note, titled "Iran’s Water Issue Is 'Wicked'!", draws upon Rittel and Webber’s theory of "wicked problems" to explain why traditional, engineering-centric approaches have failed to resolve the water crisis. By applying the ten characteristics of wicked problems to the situation of water in Iran, the note emphasizes the necessity of shifting from "simple, definitive solutions" toward "adaptive, participatory, and learning-oriented processes"; it further demonstrates that failing to acknowledge the "wicked" nature of Iran's water issue—and persisting with traditional, engineering-centric approaches—will entail highly perilous consequences for the country.
The fourth note, titled "An Assessment of the Philosophy, Doctrine, and Agenda in Iran’s Water Policy Design," adopts a historical and comparative perspective across the Constitutional, Pahlavi, and Islamic Republic eras. It examines how philosophical shifts—moving from traditional wisdom to instrumental rationality and subsequently to a focus on distributive justice—have steered the trajectory of water policy away from equilibrium and toward the overexploitation and depletion of resources.
The practices criticized in all four notes have been observed in other countries as well; however, many nations have addressed these issues in a timely and prudent manner, particularly by prioritizing the discourse of sustainability. Unfortunately, the country's water governance has become trapped in a state of stagnation and adherence to the status quo—a result of policies being locked into inefficient, traditional methods—which has hindered and continues to hinder reform. Ultimately, a conceptual summary and conclusion titled "Water Governance in Iran: From Resource Management to Civilizational Water Governance" outlines a holistic vision; this vision emphasizes the necessity of moving beyond a "sectoral and instrumental" view of water toward a "civilizational understanding of water governance." In this perspective, water is regarded not merely as a natural resource or an economic commodity, but as an integral part of the country's culture, identity, and social life.
In fact, this inquiry offers policy recommendations for improving and reforming water governance in Iran by integrating an interdisciplinary approach, a coherent theoretical framework—grounded in concepts such as institutions, governance, "wicked problems," and integrated management—and a strategic, forward-looking perspective.
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