The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico

This article argues that policy making is an interactive and ongoing process that transcends the spatio-temporal boundaries drawn by a linear, rational or instrumental model of policy. We construct this argument by analysing the making of the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) policy in Mexico in...

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Autores principales: Rap, Edwin, Wester, P.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40236
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author Rap, Edwin
Wester, P.
author_browse Rap, Edwin
Wester, P.
author_facet Rap, Edwin
Wester, P.
author_sort Rap, Edwin
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This article argues that policy making is an interactive and ongoing process that transcends the spatio-temporal boundaries drawn by a linear, rational or instrumental model of policy. We construct this argument by analysing the making of the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) policy in Mexico in the early 1990s, focusing on different episodes of its re-emergence, standardisation, and acceleration. During this period a standardised policy package was developed, consisting of a set of specific policy technologies to effect the transfer to Water Users' Associations (WUAs). These technologies were assembled in response to geographically dispersed trials of strength: experiments, consultations and clashes in the field, and negotiations at the national and international level. A newly installed public water authority increasingly succeeded in coordinating the convergence and accumulation of dispersed experiences and ideas on how to make the transfer work. Our analysis shows how this composite package of policy technologies worked to include a network of support and to exclude opposition at different levels, while at the same time stabilising an interpretation of policy-related events. In this way the policy gathered momentum and was 'made to succeed'.
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spelling CGSpace402362023-06-12T20:10:30Z The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico Rap, Edwin Wester, P. irrigation management policy making political aspects bureaucracy water user associations case studies This article argues that policy making is an interactive and ongoing process that transcends the spatio-temporal boundaries drawn by a linear, rational or instrumental model of policy. We construct this argument by analysing the making of the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) policy in Mexico in the early 1990s, focusing on different episodes of its re-emergence, standardisation, and acceleration. During this period a standardised policy package was developed, consisting of a set of specific policy technologies to effect the transfer to Water Users' Associations (WUAs). These technologies were assembled in response to geographically dispersed trials of strength: experiments, consultations and clashes in the field, and negotiations at the national and international level. A newly installed public water authority increasingly succeeded in coordinating the convergence and accumulation of dispersed experiences and ideas on how to make the transfer work. Our analysis shows how this composite package of policy technologies worked to include a network of support and to exclude opposition at different levels, while at the same time stabilising an interpretation of policy-related events. In this way the policy gathered momentum and was 'made to succeed'. 2013 2014-06-13T14:47:13Z 2014-06-13T14:47:13Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40236 en Open Access Rap, Edwin; Wester, P. 2013. The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico. Water Alternatives, 6(3):506-531.
spellingShingle irrigation management
policy making
political aspects
bureaucracy
water user associations
case studies
Rap, Edwin
Wester, P.
The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico
title The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico
title_full The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico
title_fullStr The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico
title_full_unstemmed The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico
title_short The practices and politics of making policy: irrigation management transfer in Mexico
title_sort practices and politics of making policy irrigation management transfer in mexico
topic irrigation management
policy making
political aspects
bureaucracy
water user associations
case studies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40236
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