Controversial hydraulic project in coastal Uruguay: conflict around privatization and lack of social participation

Abstract

Water is essential to people and the planet, and it is central to life processes. In South America, like worldwide, there are numerous water conflicts, related to scarcity (quantity and quality), floods, access to drinking water, among others. These socioenvironmental conflicts, which involve social, political and economic actors, are a consequence of multiple factors, including those related to economic and political interest, social inequalities, climate, land use, and water management. Water conflicts in South America tend to be more frequent as some trends, like the commodities production and the privatization of water and sanitation services, accentuate. This session will focus on existing water conflicts in five South American countries, analyzing their consequences on water management (public and/or private) and water access of vulnerable and other social groups. In addition to presentations of cutting-edge research, the panelists will engage in a rich dialogue to discuss the implications and potential contributions of their findings.