Privatizing Water : Governance Failure and the World's Urban Water Crisis

Water supply privatization was emblematic of the neoliberal turn in development policy in the 1990s. Proponents argued that the private sector could provide better services at lower costs than governments; opponents questioned the risks involved in delegating control over a life-sustaining resource to for-profit companies. Private-sector activity was most concentrated--and contested--in large cities in developing countries, where the widespread lack of access to networked water supplies was characterized as a global crisis. In Privatizing Water, Karen Bakker focuses on three questions: Why did privatization emerge as a preferred alternative for managing urban water supply? Can privatization fulfill its proponents' expectations, particularly with respect to water supply to the urban poor? And, given the apparent shortcomings of both privatization and conventional approaches to government provision, what are the alternatives? In answering these questions, Bakker engages with broader debates over the role of the private sector in development, the role of urban communities in the provision of "public" services, and the governance of public goods. She introduces the concept of "governance failure" as a means of exploring the limitations facing both private companies and governments. Critically examining a range of issues--including the transnational struggle over the human right to water, the "commons" as a water-supply-management strategy, and the environmental dimensions of water privatization--Privatizing Water is a balanced exploration of a critical issue that affects billions of people around the world contents 5 figures 6 tables 6 preface 7 abbreviations and acronyms 13 defining “privatization”: a note on terminology 15 Introduction privatization and the urban water crisis 17 development, urbanization, and the governance of thirst 33 governance failure reframing the urban water supply crisis 35 material emblems of citizenship creating public water 68 watering the thirsty poor the water privatization debate 94 citizens without a city the techno-politics of urban water governance 124 beyond privatization debating alternatives 149 protesting privatization transnational struggles over the human right to water 151 commons versus commodities the ambiguous merits of community water-supply management 178 politics and biopolitics debating ecological governance 206 conclusion beyond privatization 229 Notes 245 references 275 index 313 Governance Failure : Reframing The Urban Water Supply Crisis -- Material Emblems Of Citizenship : Creating Public Water -- Watering The Thirsty Poor : The Water Privatization Debate -- Citizens Without A City : The Techno-politics Of Urban Water Governance -- Protesting Privatization : Transnational Struggles Over The Human Right To Water -- Commons Versus Commodities : The Ambiguous Merits Of Community Water-supply Management -- Politics And Biopolitics : Debating Ecological Governance. Karen Bakker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.