Management by Basin in Costa Rica: Genealogy and Trajectory of a Concept

Abstract

Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) as well as basin management are concepts and discourses that have been disseminated and internationalized since the 1990s. International organizations and the World Bank promoted the adaptation of national legislation in light of these concepts, presenting them as the ideal answer to the problems regarding water. This article seeks to analyze the genealogy of these concepts, as well as their almost general acceptance by governments, international organizations and academics. This allowed them to become a practically unquestionable hegemonic discourse. However, there are important critics, which warn that these concepts are not neutral and / or scientific, but they are a decision, a western and neoliberal political construction. In order to understand how the IWRM and basin management concepts were applied in Costa Rica, a research process that involved an important bibliographic and gray literature review of projects and programs that promote IWRM was undertaken. In addition, interviews were conducted with experts, academics, public officials and local actors related to the water sector.