Paradigms and Theories Influencing Policies in the South African and International Water Sectors: PULSE³, A Framework for Policy Analysis

258 Pages·2017·3.217 MB·English

by  Richard Meissner (auth.)

Richard Meissner
Paradigms and
Theories Influencing
Policies in the
South African and
International Water
Sectors
PULSE3, A Framework for Policy Analysis
fl
Paradigms and Theories In uencing Policies in the
South African and International Water Sectors
Richard Meissner
Paradigms and Theories
fl
In uencing Policies in the
South African and
International Water Sectors
3
PULSE , A Framework for Policy Analysis
123
Richard Meissner
Council for ScientificandIndustrial
Research(CSIR)
Pretoria
SouthAfrica
and
Centrefor Water ResourcesResearch
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Private Bag X01Scottsville 3209
SouthAfrica
ISBN978-3-319-48546-1 ISBN978-3-319-48547-8 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-48547-8
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2016955080
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Acknowledgements
IwouldliketothankMariusClaassenforinvolvingmeintheWaterSustainability
Flagship project and for encouraging me to develop PULSE3. The framework
would not have been possible without a number of field trips undertaken for the
project. Karen Nortje, Elliot Moyo, Nikki Funke, Winile Masangane, Cebile
Ntombela,andShannaNienaberplayedvaryingrolesinorganisingthefieldtripsto
the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality. The field trips to the wastewater
treatmentplantsgavevaluableinsightintotheinteractionbetweenhumansandthe
environment. Karen Nortje encouraged me to tell the story of my research jour-
ney (see appendix 1). I am also grateful to Inga Jacobs-Mata and Reyhana
Mahomed for helping me in better communicating the PULSE3 framework for
analysistodifferentaudiences.Duringsessionswherewediscussedtheframework,
Irealisedjusthowdifficultitcanbetocommunicateone’sscientificknowledgeand
that a critical eye can go a long way in improving matters.
I would also like to acknowledge the work of our subject librarian, Engela van
Heerden. Her skilled literature searches have helped the research in many ways.
IwouldalsoliketothankJuanetteJohnforreadingpartsofthemanuscriptandthe
critical reflections she provided. To Hennie Lötter at the University of
Johannesburg’s Department of Philosophy, I own a huge debt of gratitude. He
agreedtoreadthePULSE3frameworkandencouragedmetodevelopthetheoryof
water research. Rudra Sil from the University of Pennsylvania also gave valuable
inputs into the use of the concept ‘analytic eclecticism’. He was willing to look at
the use of the concept he elaborated upon with Peter J. Katzenstein at short notice
and responded with exquisite insights. Deon Geldenhuys, from the University of
Johannesburg’s Department of Politics and International Relations, also gave
valuable inputs after I showed him the framework over lunch in Melville. For his
insight, I am very grateful. Sabine Stuart-Hill from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal’sCentreforWaterResourceResearchassistedgreatlyinmytripto
Germany inJuly2015whereIgaveapresentationofPULSE3attheUniversityof
Osnabrück’s Institute for Environmental Systems Research. From this institute, I
would like to thank Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Kathrin Knüppe, Elizabeth Ehling and
v
vi Acknowledgements
Christian Stein, and a host of other staff researchers for their participation and
comments during the presentation. I would also like to thank Chad Harris and
Catherine Botha from the Department of Philosophy at the University of
Johannesburg for arranging a seminar where I presented the framework and case
studies to a group of philosophers and other experts in the field of water resource
governanceandmanagement.Presentatthisseminar,amongstothers,were:Rafael
Winkler, Hennie Lötter, Veli Mitova, Basil Fick and Jane Anderson. To these
philosophers my heartfelt thanks.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Fritz Schmuhl from Springer who
encouraged and guided me throughout the production and publication process.
Without such dedication as Fritz’s, a book like this would remain a pipe dream.
Iwouldfurthermore liketoexpressmygratitudetomyfriendJeroenWarnerwho,
over eisbein and beers in Osnabrück, also commented on the framework. Jeroen
encouraged me to take the research further and gave some good pointers on
strategies I could use to improve the text and thinking. Last but not least, I would
like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. Their
suggestions on how to make the book more readable added immense value to the
manuscript and the argumentation contained herein. Although numerous individ-
uals were involved in making suggestions and reading various parts of the book, I
bear full responsibility for any errors.
2016 Richard Meissner
Contents
1 Water Research in South Africa .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 1
1.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 1
1.2 The Myths We Rely on .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 1
1.3 Science as Constant Critique .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 5
1.3.1 Acid Mine Drainage . .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 7
1.3.2 Integrated Water Resources Management . .... ..... .... 8
1.3.3 Transboundary River Cooperation... .... .... ..... .... 11
1.4 Rethinking Inquiry in the Water Sector .... .... .... ..... .... 13
1.5 Critical Solidarity.... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 15
1.6 How the Rest of the Book Unfolds ... .... .... .... ..... .... 19
1.7 Conclusion. .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 19
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 20
2 Water Governance and Management and Climate Change.... .... 25
2.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 25
2.2 Climate Adaptation Strategies in Australia and South Africa . .... 25
2.2.1 Climate Change Assessment and Adaptation... ..... .... 27
2.2.2 Paradigm Assessment of Adapting South African
Cities and Towns’... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 27
2.2.3 Paradigm Assessment of Climate Change Vulnerability
in South East Queensland. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 30
2.2.4 The South African and Australian Adaptation Plans
Through the Lens of Analytic Eclecticism .... ..... .... 32
2.2.5 Theory for Practice: Social Learning and Policy
Paradigms.... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 35
2.2.6 Discussion.... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 40
2.3 South Africa’s National Water Resource Strategy,
Second Edition.. .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 44
2.3.1 Introduction... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 44
2.3.2 Paradigm Assessment of the NWRS2.... .... ..... .... 45
vii
viii Contents
2.3.3 The NWRS2 Through the Lens of Analytic
Eclecticism ... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 50
2.3.4 Theories for Practice. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 53
2.3.5 Discussion.... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 56
2.4 The UNDP’s Water and Ocean Governance Focus Area .... .... 59
2.4.1 Introduction... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 59
2.4.2 Paradigm Assessment of the Focus Area.. .... ..... .... 60
2.4.3 The UNDP’s Webcontent Through the Lens of
Analytic Eclecticism. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 68
2.4.4 Theory for Practice: Social Constructivism.... ..... .... 75
2.4.5 Discussion.... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 76
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 80
3 Active Substantiation: A Theory of Water Research .... ..... .... 89
3.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 89
3.2 Active Substantiation . ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 89
3.3 The Active ‘Loom’... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 91
3.4 Water on Mars.. .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 92
3.5 Air France Flight 447. ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 93
3.6 At the Behest of Active Substantiation. .... .... .... ..... .... 95
3.7 Conclusion. .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 97
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 97
4 PULSE3: A Framework for Analysis. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 99
4.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 99
4.2 The Rationale for PULSE3.. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 99
4.3 PULSE3’s Characteristics... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 100
4.3.1 Component #1: Research Paradigm Assessment..... .... 101
4.3.2 Component #2: The Ethos of Analytic Eclecticism... .... 113
4.3.3 Component #3: Theories for Practice .... .... ..... .... 119
4.4 Operationalising Analytic Eclecticism and the Repertoire
of Theories. .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 122
4.5 Conclusion. .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 127
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 127
5 Paradigms and Theories: Popular Labels and Their
Delimitation.... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 131
5.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 131
5.2 Paradigms and Theories .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 131
5.3 The Importance of Paradigms and Theories . .... .... ..... .... 135
5.4 Causality... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 139
5.5 The Unproductive Disdain for Research Paradigms
and Theories.... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 142
5.6 Conclusion. .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 149
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 149
Contents ix
6 Advancing Different Ideas ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 155
6.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 155
6.2 Constant Critique as a Travelling Companion ... .... ..... .... 155
Appendix 1: My Research Journey.... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 158
Appendix 2: Theories for Practice. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 169
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 241
Index .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 249
Chapter 1
Water Research in South Africa
1.1 Introduction
In this introductory chapter, I will talk about the nature of water research in the
South African context. In short, research scientists study water resource manage-
mentinitsvariousfacetstoameliorateproblemsthatcouldnegativelyaffecthuman
populationsandthenaturalenvironment.Thisisthepopularviewofwaterresearch,
itsnatureandmotivation forembarkingontheendeavour.Thereis,however,more
thanmeetstheeye.Asubliminalreality existswhenweconductwaterresearch:the
myths we adhere to as water researchers. In this chapter, I will explore the myth
aspect and other elements characterising water research in more detail. I organise
thechapterasfollows.Inthefirstsection,Iwillinvestigateandreportonmythsin
International Relations theory and link the arguments contained in this rendition
with thatofwater resourcegovernanceandmanagement.Iwillthen tellthereader
whatthebookisabout;inotherwords,theessenceofthebookandwhyIthinkitis
necessarytowrite abookreportingonmyinvestigationinresearchparadigmsand
theoriesinwatergovernanceandmanagement.Iwillthen demonstrate theissuesI
will address in the rest of the book with three short case studies: acid mine drai-
nage, integrated water resource management and transboundary river cooperation.
Inthepenultimatesectionofthechapter,IwillelaborateonhowIthinkweshould
think about water research. I then elaborate on critical solidarity as a way to enact
such thinking. I will then end with a conclusion.
1.2 The Myths We Rely on
The natural environment is the well-spring of the water resources we need for
various activities. This is in a sense a ‘myth’, or an apparent truth expressed in
sloganformonwhichatheoryreliesuponinordertobetrue(Weber2014).Letme
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R.Meissner,ParadigmsandTheoriesInfluencingPoliciesintheSouthAfrican
andInternationalWaterSectors,DOI10.1007/978-3-319-48547-8_1