Water Security: Principles, Perspectives and Practices(Earthscan Water Text)

The purpose of this book is to present an overview of the latest research, policy, practitioner, academic and international thinking on water security—an issue that, like water governance a few years ago, has developed much policy awareness and momentum with a wide range of stakeholders. As a concept it is open to multiple interpretations, and the authors here set out the various approaches to the topic from different perspectives. Key themes addressed include: Water security as a foreign policy issue The interconnected variables of water, food, and human security Dimensions other than military and international relations concerns around water security Water security theory and methods, tools and audits. The book is loosely based on a masters level degree plus a short professional course on water security both given at the University of East Anglia, delivered by international authorities on their subjects. It should serve as an introductory textbook as well as be of value to professionals, NGOs, and policy-makers.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: Frameworks/Approaches to Water Security 1. Introduction: A Battle of Ideas for Water Security 2. The Web of Sustainable Water Security 3. The Water Security Paradox and International Law: Securitisation as an Obstacle to Achieving Water Security and the Role of Law in De-Securitising the World’s Most Precious Resource Part 2: Perspectives and Principles 4. Debating the Concept of Water Security 5. Water Security – The Multiform Water Scarcity Dimension 6. Securing Water in a Changing Climate 7. The Role of Cities as Drivers of International Transboundary Water Management Processes 8. The Water-Energy Nexus - Meeting Growing Demand in a Resource-Constrained World 9. Water Security for Ecosystems, Ecosystems for Water Security 10. From Water Productivity to Water Security: A Paradigm Shift? 11. Transboundary Water Security: Reviewing the Importance of National Regulatory and Accountability Capacities in International Transboundary River Basins Part 3: Water Security as Practice and Practice Debates 12. Easy as 1, 2, 3? Political and Technical Considerations for Designing Water Security Indicators 13. Water Security Risk and Response: The Logic and Limits of Economic Instruments 14. Corporate Water Stewardship: Exploring Private Sector Engagement in Water Security 15. The Shotgun Marriage: Water Security, Cultural Politics and Forced Engagements between Official and Local Rights Frameworks 16. Infrastructure Hydromentalities; Water Sharing, Water Control and Water (In)Security 17. The Strategic Dimensions of Water: From National Security to Sustainable Security 18. Dances with Wolves: Four Flood Security Frames 19. Household Water Security and the Human Right to Water and Sanitation Part 4: Conclusion 20. Food-Water Security: Beyond Water Resources and the Water Sector 21. A Synthesis Chapter: The ‘Incodys’ Water Security Model

About the Author :
Bruce Lankford is Professor of Water and Irrigation Policy in the School of International Development at the University of East Anglia, UK. Karen Bakker is a Professor in Geography, Canada Research Chair in Political Ecology, and Director of the Program on Water Governance at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Mark Zeitoun is a Reader in the School of International Development at the University of East Anglia, UK, and co-Director of the UEA Water Security Research Centre. Declan Conway was, at the time of writing, Professor of Water Resources and Climate Change in the School of International Development at the University of East Anglia, UK.

Review :
"Lankford, Bakker, Zeitoun and Conway have put together the best collection on the subject of water security I've ever read." - Lawrence Susskind, MIT, in Anthem EnviroExperts Review "One of the most useful models in the book is a web of sustainable water security including climate security, national security, water resources security, energy security and food security. One can readily appreciate that a dynamic systems approach is required to manage this kind of complexity, and indeed one of the contributions is specifically devoted to water security for ecosystems in terms of optimum allocation." - David Lorimer, Network Review