Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia

Local-level participatory communication practices have enabled the opening of new democratic spaces in which decisions on water policies are taken. Through their resistance to water privatisation policies, many Colombian community aqueducts have made use of a transformed political and social role. C...

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Main Author: Valeria Llano-Arias
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Water Alternatives Association 2015-06-01
Series:Water Alternatives
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol8/v8issue2/282-a8-2-5/file
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author Valeria Llano-Arias
author_facet Valeria Llano-Arias
author_sort Valeria Llano-Arias
collection DOAJ
description Local-level participatory communication practices have enabled the opening of new democratic spaces in which decisions on water policies are taken. Through their resistance to water privatisation policies, many Colombian community aqueducts have made use of a transformed political and social role. Citizens from community aqueduct associations are generating new forms of political participation and citizenship, capable of challenging the widespread political apathy in the country. This article presents two case studies of community aqueduct associations in Colombia; exploring the scope of their communication and mobilisation actions in challenging power relations concerning water governance and in enhancing citizen participation in democratic actions. The article also explores how local water governance initiatives such as the development of a water management computer software with particular communitarian characteristics, can support local initiatives for political transformation and more sustainable water governance. These new forms of citizenship based on claims of sovereignty over natural, common goods are gradually transforming Colombian democratic space. The article draws on debates around active citizenship, deepening democracy, and participatory communication approaches to explain the aims of community organisations and the mechanisms by which they are self-organising and managing water at the local level.
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spelling doaj.art-46d28df884a04b8d84a31ad48e56b5522022-12-22T03:02:05ZengWater Alternatives AssociationWater Alternatives1965-01751965-01752015-06-01827798Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in ColombiaValeria Llano-Arias0University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandLocal-level participatory communication practices have enabled the opening of new democratic spaces in which decisions on water policies are taken. Through their resistance to water privatisation policies, many Colombian community aqueducts have made use of a transformed political and social role. Citizens from community aqueduct associations are generating new forms of political participation and citizenship, capable of challenging the widespread political apathy in the country. This article presents two case studies of community aqueduct associations in Colombia; exploring the scope of their communication and mobilisation actions in challenging power relations concerning water governance and in enhancing citizen participation in democratic actions. The article also explores how local water governance initiatives such as the development of a water management computer software with particular communitarian characteristics, can support local initiatives for political transformation and more sustainable water governance. These new forms of citizenship based on claims of sovereignty over natural, common goods are gradually transforming Colombian democratic space. The article draws on debates around active citizenship, deepening democracy, and participatory communication approaches to explain the aims of community organisations and the mechanisms by which they are self-organising and managing water at the local level.http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol8/v8issue2/282-a8-2-5/fileCommunity aqueductsparticipatory communicationwater governanceColombia
spellingShingle Valeria Llano-Arias
Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia
Water Alternatives
Community aqueducts
participatory communication
water governance
Colombia
title Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia
title_full Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia
title_fullStr Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia
title_short Community Knowledge Sharing and Co-Production of Water Services: Two Cases of Community Aqueduct Associations in Colombia
title_sort community knowledge sharing and co production of water services two cases of community aqueduct associations in colombia
topic Community aqueducts
participatory communication
water governance
Colombia
url http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol8/v8issue2/282-a8-2-5/file
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