The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico
In this article I present the politics that spurred groundwater development in Central and Northern Mexico between 1930 and 1990, and analyse the working/effects of the neoliberal groundwater policies that were implemented in the country since the 1990s. I first present, based on an analysis of t...
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Water Alternatives Association
2018-10-01
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doaj-0f6f00b10da14fbea8fc8fb85618bf312020-11-25T00:55:06ZengWater Alternatives AssociationWater Alternatives1965-01751965-01752018-10-01113 552571The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico Jaime Hoogesteger0Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands In this article I present the politics that spurred groundwater development in Central and Northern Mexico between 1930 and 1990, and analyse the working/effects of the neoliberal groundwater policies that were implemented in the country since the 1990s. I first present, based on an analysis of the Comarca Lagunera and the state of Guanajuato, the socio-economic, political and institutional dynamics that shaped groundwater development between 1930 and 1990, with a special focus on how with state support large commercial farmers and small ejidatarios developed groundwater irrigation. My analysis shows how the actors involved in groundwater development, just like ostriches, stuck their head in the sand, oblivious to aquifer overdraft and its environmental consequences. Then I present how – since the 1990s – neoliberal groundwater regulation policies have worked out on the ground opening the doors to regulatory capture and groundwater accumulation through capital, oblivious to sustained aquifer overdraft, a shrinking peasant ejido sector, increased rural outmigration and the health threat of toxic concentration of Fluoride and Arsenic in many groundwater dependent areas. This analysis raises serious doubts about the capacity of – often (inter)nationally lauded – neoliberally inspired groundwater policies to contribute to socio-environmental sustainability and equity. http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol11/v11issue3/453-a11-3-6/fileGroundwaterwater policywater marketswater grabbingagrarian policiesMexico |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jaime Hoogesteger |
spellingShingle |
Jaime Hoogesteger The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico Water Alternatives Groundwater water policy water markets water grabbing agrarian policies Mexico |
author_facet |
Jaime Hoogesteger |
author_sort |
Jaime Hoogesteger |
title |
The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico |
title_short |
The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico |
title_full |
The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico |
title_fullStr |
The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico |
title_full_unstemmed |
The ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in Mexico |
title_sort |
ostrich politics of groundwater development and neoliberal regulation in mexico |
publisher |
Water Alternatives Association |
series |
Water Alternatives |
issn |
1965-0175 1965-0175 |
publishDate |
2018-10-01 |
description |
In this article I present the politics that spurred groundwater development in Central and Northern
Mexico between 1930 and 1990, and analyse the working/effects of the neoliberal groundwater policies that
were implemented in the country since the 1990s. I first present, based on an analysis of the Comarca Lagunera
and the state of Guanajuato, the socio-economic, political and institutional dynamics that shaped groundwater
development between 1930 and 1990, with a special focus on how with state support large commercial farmers
and small ejidatarios developed groundwater irrigation. My analysis shows how the actors involved in
groundwater development, just like ostriches, stuck their head in the sand, oblivious to aquifer overdraft and its
environmental consequences. Then I present how – since the 1990s – neoliberal groundwater regulation policies
have worked out on the ground opening the doors to regulatory capture and groundwater accumulation through
capital, oblivious to sustained aquifer overdraft, a shrinking peasant ejido sector, increased rural outmigration and
the health threat of toxic concentration of Fluoride and Arsenic in many groundwater dependent areas. This
analysis raises serious doubts about the capacity of – often (inter)nationally lauded – neoliberally inspired
groundwater policies to contribute to socio-environmental sustainability and equity.
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topic |
Groundwater water policy water markets water grabbing agrarian policies Mexico |
url |
http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol11/v11issue3/453-a11-3-6/file |
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AT jaimehoogesteger theostrichpoliticsofgroundwaterdevelopmentandneoliberalregulationinmexico AT jaimehoogesteger ostrichpoliticsofgroundwaterdevelopmentandneoliberalregulationinmexico |
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