Scalar configuration, power strategies and water governance: insights from the politics of the Yangtze-to-Huai Water Transfer Project. Issue 4 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Qidong; Zhang, Hairong; Xu, Jiajun; Yang, Fang
• Is Part Of: International journal of water resources development. Volume 38:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 658
• Page End: 679
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Scale -- hydropolitics -- water geographies -- inter-basin transfer -- the Yangtze-to-Huai Water Transfer Project -- water governance; Water resources development -- Periodicals; Water-supply, Agricultural -- Periodicals; 333.91005
• DOI: 10.1080/07900627.2021.1929087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0790-0627

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The paper studies the decision-making process of the Yangtze-to-Huai Water Transfer Project (YHWTP) in China to explore how governments at various levels and the public respond to spatial and jurisdictional ambiguities inherent in the incomplete decentralization of water governance. Through participatory observations, semi-structured interviews and investigation of historical records of the project, we examine scalar strategies adopted by various groups at different stages. We find that within China's regionally decentralized authoritarian regime under centralized regulation, the scalar configurations as a result of the scalar strategies produce material consequence in the planning, designing and construction of inter-basin transfer projects. The use of such strategies transforms the existing scalar configuration, which provides a basis for further changes in the power structure.