Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps
Can the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid and the analysis of different users’ perceptions of water advance the study of water sustainability? In this article, I explore this question by empirically studying sustainability values and challenges, as well as distinct types of water as identif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Water Alternatives Association
2015-06-01
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| Series: | Water Alternatives |
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| Online Access: | http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol8/v8issue2/291-a8-2-14/file |
| _version_ | 1817995954291212288 |
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| author | Flurina Schneider |
| author_facet | Flurina Schneider |
| author_sort | Flurina Schneider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Can the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid and the analysis of different users’ perceptions of water advance the study of water sustainability? In this article, I explore this question by empirically studying sustainability values and challenges, as well as distinct types of water as identified by members of five water user groups in a case study region in the Swiss Alps.
Linking the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid with the different water users’ perspectives provided valuable insights into the complex relations between material, cultural, and discursive practices. In particular, it provided a clearer picture of existing water sustainability challenges and the factors and processes that hinder more sustainable outcomes. However, by focusing on relational processes and individual stakeholder perspectives, only a limited knowledge could be created regarding a) what a more sustainable water future would look like and b) how current unsustainable practices can be effectively transformed into more sustainable ones.
I conclude by arguing that the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid provides an interesting analytical tool for investigating sustainability questions; however, if it is to contribute to water sustainability, it needs to be integrated into a broader transdisciplinary research perspective that understands science as part of a deliberative and reflective process of knowledge co-production and social learning between all actor groups involved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:15:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0868e15af87451aa14f18bd063c5008 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1965-0175 1965-0175 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:15:41Z |
| publishDate | 2015-06-01 |
| publisher | Water Alternatives Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Alternatives |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0868e15af87451aa14f18bd063c50082022-12-22T02:18:14ZengWater Alternatives AssociationWater Alternatives1965-01751965-01752015-06-0182280296Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss AlpsFlurina Schneider0Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, BernCan the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid and the analysis of different users’ perceptions of water advance the study of water sustainability? In this article, I explore this question by empirically studying sustainability values and challenges, as well as distinct types of water as identified by members of five water user groups in a case study region in the Swiss Alps. Linking the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid with the different water users’ perspectives provided valuable insights into the complex relations between material, cultural, and discursive practices. In particular, it provided a clearer picture of existing water sustainability challenges and the factors and processes that hinder more sustainable outcomes. However, by focusing on relational processes and individual stakeholder perspectives, only a limited knowledge could be created regarding a) what a more sustainable water future would look like and b) how current unsustainable practices can be effectively transformed into more sustainable ones. I conclude by arguing that the concept of water as a socio-natural hybrid provides an interesting analytical tool for investigating sustainability questions; however, if it is to contribute to water sustainability, it needs to be integrated into a broader transdisciplinary research perspective that understands science as part of a deliberative and reflective process of knowledge co-production and social learning between all actor groups involved.http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol8/v8issue2/291-a8-2-14/fileHybrid waterstakeholder perceptionswater sustainabilitySwitzerland |
| spellingShingle | Flurina Schneider Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps Water Alternatives Hybrid water stakeholder perceptions water sustainability Switzerland |
| title | Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps |
| title_full | Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps |
| title_short | Exploring Sustainability through Stakeholders’ Perspectives and Hybrid Water in the Swiss Alps |
| title_sort | exploring sustainability through stakeholders perspectives and hybrid water in the swiss alps |
| topic | Hybrid water stakeholder perceptions water sustainability Switzerland |
| url | http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol8/v8issue2/291-a8-2-14/file |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT flurinaschneider exploringsustainabilitythroughstakeholdersperspectivesandhybridwaterintheswissalps |