The hydrosocial approach and its cycles in Latin America: use, abuse and a possible way through the maze

LARSIMONT ROBIN; FACUNDO MARTIN

Paris

Congreso; Water in the Americas International Conference, Paris, January 9th -11th 2019; 2019

Université Sorbonne

During the past few years, the conceptual framework of the political ecology of water has gained a growing promotion and acceptance in Latin America. The proliferation of hybrid concepts used to address hydrological related issues ? or a hydrosocial approach ? has provided fertile ground for research to many social and environmental scientists of the region. The hydrosocial approach made it possible the acknowledgement of processes that regulate the access and control of water, considering the many and diverse agents as well as the spatial and temporal scales involved in those processes. This academic increasing production corresponds to ? and is partially explained by ? the ?leading? role of water in the large number of looting experiences and rapine economy that Latin America has endured during the ?boom? cycle of commodities which seems to be present nowadays. In this respect, the hydrosocial approach was introduced as a valuable tool with many heuristic possibilities making it possible to reconsider the relations of power which has been historically shaped by the use and appropriation of water.In this paper, we seek to promote a theoretical and methodological balance process in accordance with the large number of studies which have been carried out within this framework. Due to the massive amount of empirical studies, the purpose of this paper is to provide a thoughtful and exploratory exercise ? which does not pretend, in any manner, to be exhausted ? encouraging a climate of open dialogue on this widespread phenomenon. From this position, we intend to focus our attention to the lack of criticism and repetitive argumentation in current literature. Two interrelated observations support our arguments:1) Instead of being interpreted on the grounds of complex ontological and epistemological imbrications, the hydrosocial approach has been construed as ?rhetorical? or ?jargon?. Thus, the explanations tend to be court-circuitées and study cases always and/or simply tend to reinforce the sophisticated ?though flexible ? theoretical diagram. 2) Academic papers showing a dynamic and receptive argumentative structure in accordance with the complexity of the studied phenomenon generally tend to present significant voids, omissions, and obscurity as regards the operating procedures or techniques for data production.Based on that observation, our work has been organized into four steps. Firstly, we indicated the origins of the hydrosocial approach and highlighted its significant milestones and influence. Secondly, we provided an account of the proliferation of the hydrosocial perspective in the region as well as the main theses that have contributed to the organization of research and field explanations. Thirdly, and as an overall assessment, we made a critical analysis of some examples of ?appropriation? and frequent use of this theoretical framework to analyze cases from/about Latin America. To this end, we narrowed down the analysis of literature ? appropriation, use and abuse ?and focused on the introduction of the concept of ?hydrosocial cycle? to rural areas of Latin America, especially in Andean and Southern Cone countries. In this respect, we identified problems related to the conceptual im(precision), rhetoric im(potence), and obscurity in the field of work. Finally, and as a conclusion, we pondered on some possible exit routes based on precision and conceptual operationalization, historization and open access to cycles, and clarity in the field of work in Latin American areas in which the limited access to information and the need to monitor the construction and interpretation of data are commonplace.This essay encourages constructive debate and critical thought among those researchers involved in this area or that just value the heuristic potential of the hydrosocial approach. We may conclude that this perspective can be presented as a useful tool for the social study of water as long as it considers the complex theoretical and methodological imbrications facing the reality which is intended to tackle.