Analyzing networks of influence and information exchange in water governance system; case study of Zayandeh-Rud river basin in Isfahan province

Subject Areas : Water resource management

Esmaeel Zakeri Mahabadi ¹ , Mohammad Reza Yazdani Zazerani ^{2 *} , Hananeh Mohammadi Kangarani ³

1 - Ph.D of Public Policy, Water Study Research Center, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor of Political Science Department, Water Study Research Center, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
3 - Associate professor of Forestry Department, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

Received: 2023-10-10 Accepted : 2024-07-03 Published : 2024-07-14

Keywords: Policy Making, Water Governance, Network Analysis, Zayandeh-Rud River Basin,

Abstract :

As a closed basin with low rainfall, Zayandeh-Rud river basin is faced with the challenge of water resources management. This challenge is deepening and spreading to other social areas. For this reason this research paid to the dimensions of the crisis with the aim of identifying its causes from water governance network point of view in the geography of Isfahan province. The information exchange network and the influence network on the water issue have been studied by writing a researcher-made questionnaire and collecting information from 76 participants. Then the results have been analyzed using ucinet software and two indices of value components and similarity matrix. As a result, it has been determined that the mentioned networks have been formed under the influence of limited interests and the influence and exchange of information within them is not organized, based on the capacity and position of the actors which shows their dysfunction.

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