Suchergebnisse

This book provides unique insights into the complex issue of water security in South Africa. Based on qualitative research conducted through face-to-face structured interviews and focus group discussions with individuals, traditional leaders, municipal officials, researchers, businesspeople and farmers in the two local governments - the Sekhukhune District and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipalities - it focuses on the peoples' understanding of the concept of water security and whether they believe that the municipalities have achieved water security for all. The research is supported by water security-related statistics, particularly those pertaining to water quality and quantity, and an extensive literature review for the concept of water security. In addition to assessing the state of water security in both municipalities, the book presents a new water security definition and typology, and offers valuable recommendations for future research.

Intro -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- 1 Introduction: Interest Groups, the Kunene River and Epupa's Imperative -- Abstract -- 1.1 Interest Groups -- 1.2 The Kunene River from Source to Mouth -- 1.3 The Proposed Epupa Dam's Rationale -- References -- 2 The Kunene River's State-Centric Hydropolitical History -- Abstract -- 2.1 Colonists' Early Plans for the Kunene -- 2.2 Cooperation Between Portugal and South Africa: 1926-1975 -- 2.2.1 The Rationale for Economic Development -- 2.3 The Border War: 1975-1988 -- 2.3.1 Angola's Independence and the Outbreak of War -- 2.3.2 The Attack on Calueque -- 2.4 Peace and Renewed Cooperation Between Angola and Namibia -- 2.5 Epupa Discussions Get Underway -- 2.6 Angola's Civil War, 1990-2003 -- 2.7 Conclusion -- References -- 3 The Transnational Role and Involvement of Interest Groups in the Epupa Debate -- Abstract -- 3.1 Setting the Scene -- 3.2 Roles, Strategies and Tactics -- 3.3 The OvaHimba -- 3.4 The Environment and Water Loss -- 3.5 Interest Groups in the Epupa Debate -- 3.5.1 Environmental Impact Assessment and the World Commission on Dams Hearings -- 3.5.2 Opposition Politics and Human Rights -- 3.5.3 The Epupa Action Campaign -- 3.5.4 The Feasibility Study -- 3.5.5 Alternatives Suggested -- 3.5.6 Targeting Developmental Institutions -- 3.5.7 Lobbying the South African Government -- 3.5.8 Submissions at Hearings -- 3.5.9 Angola's Announcement -- 3.6 The Namibian Government's Stance -- 3.6.1 Government Declarations -- 3.6.2 The Feasibility Study's Social Component -- 3.6.3 Gift Giving -- 3.6.4 The President's Attack -- 3.6.5 The Permanent Joint Technical Commission and the Feasibility Study -- 3.6.6 A Possible Referendum -- 3.6.7 The OvaHimba's Right to Socio-Economic Development -- 3.6.8 The Namibian Prime Minister Visits the Maguga Dam in Swaziland.

This book investigates the role that interest groups have played over the years in influencing the government of Namibia, the World Bank, the European Union and project implementation authorities to not construct the proposed Epupa Hydroelectric Power Station on the Kunene River in the Baynes mountains, a region on the border between Namibia and Angola. Some of the issues brought forward by the interest groups are the socio-economic impact the dam would have on the OvaHimba, as well as negative consequences for the river's aquatic and terrestrial environment. This book argues that interest groups and individuals have the ability to influence the above-mentioned institutions, and to such an extent that water politics and governance are not exclusively the domain of state institutions. As such, it argues that communal interest groups, living in remote parts of the world, can influence state institutions at various political scales.

The book investigates the role interest groups have played over the years to influence the governments of Lesotho and South Africa, the World Bank and project implementation authorities in changing some policy aspects of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Some of the issues being agitated by the interest groups are the resettlement of villagers where some of the dams for the projects are being constructed. The author argues that interest groups and individuals have the ability to influence the above-mentioned institutions and to such an extent that water politics and governance is not the domain of state institutions only

Climate change is dominating social, political and economic agendas. Because of the salience of the issue, scientists, researchers and consultants have developed a plethora of climate adaptation strategies. In this article I analyse two such strategies: Adapting South African Cities and Towns: A Local Government Guide to Climate Change Adaptation Planning by Ziervogel and Methner; and Climate Change Vulnerability in South East Queensland: A Spatial and Sectoral Assessment by Choy et al. For this analysis I utilised the PULSE3 analytical framework. My analysis indicated that the two adaptation strategies were predominantly positivist in scientific orientation. Other paradigms and theories are also applicable in explaining the issue of climate change and how to adapt to it.

English Abstract: What role can non-diplomats play in managing and altering power relations in transboundary river basins? We answer this by investigating the lobbying efforts of indigenous peoples to stop the construction of the planned Orokawe (Baynes) dam on the Kunene River. The Kunene River forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia with several concluded treaties in place. These treaties set the context of bilateral state diplomacy concerning the allocation and management of a transboundary water resource. The theoretical foundation of our investigation are ideational power conceptualizations and practice theory. We discuss the employment of ideational power in transboundary rivers with numerous practices, such as lobbying and transnational network development. This article argues that actors consciously practice power during transboundary water diplomacy.Spanish Abstract:
¿Qué papel desempeñan los no-diplomáticos en la gestión y modificación de las relaciones de poder en las cuencas fluviales transfronterizas? Respondemos investigando los esfuerzos de cabildeo de los pueblos indígenas para detener la construcción de la presa Orokawe (Baynes) en el río Kunene, entre Angola y Namibia. La asignación y gestión de este recurso hídrico transfronterizo, cuenta con varios tratados concluidos que establecen el contexto de la diplomacia estatal bilateral. La base teórica de esta investigación son las conceptualizaciones del poder ideacional y la "teoría de la práctica". El empleo del poder ideacional en ríos transfronterizos se refleja en prácticas como el cabildeo y el desarrollo de redes ransnacionales. Este artículo sostiene que los actores practican conscientemente este poder durante la diplomacia del agua transfronteriza.French Abstract:
Quel rôle les non-diplomates peuvent-ils jouer dans la gestion et la modification des relations de pouvoir dans les bassins fluviaux transfrontaliers? Nous répondons à certe question en enquêtant sur les efforts de lobbying des peuples autochtones pour arrêter la construction du projet du barrage d'Orokawe (Baynes) sur le fleuve Kunene. Le Kunene forme une partie de la frontière entre l'Angola et la Namibie, pays entre lesquels plusieurs traités sont en vigueur. Ces traités définissent le contexte de la diplomatie bilatérale des États concernant le partage et la gestion de la ressource en eau transfrontalière. Les fondements théoriques de notre enquête reposent sur les conceptualisations du pouvoir idéationnel et la théorie de la pratique. L'article aborde les nombreuses pratiques du pouvoir idéationnel dans les cours d'eau transfrontaliers, telles que le lobbying et le développement de réseaux transnationaux. Il soutient que les acteurs exercent consciemment le pouvoir dans le cadre de la diplomatie transfrontalière de l'eau.