Capability, sustainability, and collective action: an examination of a river water dispute

P B Anand

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: In this paper, a framework is developed to consider collective action, sustainability and the capability approach with regard to resolution of water disputes, followed by a brief discussion of how identity can hinder cooperation or the development of universalism. This framework is then examined with a case study of the Cauvery river dispute in India. At the heart of river water disputes are issues related to justice and fairness, which depend to a significant extent on: how citizens perceive their claims over river water (shaped by cultural and historical factors); the extent to which citizens are able to collectivize their claims through location, economic activity and identity, and use their voice to influence the state; the extent to which the state policy and actions reflect the ‘voice’ and collective interests of different groups; and how the various riparian states recognize and deal with each other’s’ claims. The framework discussed here suggests that the capability approach provides us with a much broader framework than collective action or Robert Solow’s sustainability as inter-generational fairness. These are conjectures for further exploration.

Keywords: Capability approach; collective action; river water dispute; Cauvery; conflict resolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 D7 Q2 Q25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-03
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published in Journal of Human Development 1.8(2007): pp. 109-132

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