Hydrosocial territories in Costa Rica: water concessions and conflicts

 

Tallennettuna:
Bibliografiset tiedot
Tekijät: Gutiérrez Arguedas, Alberto, Ramírez Arguedas, Sebastián
Aineistotyyppi: artículo original
Tila:Versión publicada
Julkaisupäivä:2026
Kuvaus:One of the central concepts in studies of the political ecology of water is that of hydrosocial territories. This is the analytical matrix that allows us to elucidate, in specific geographical contexts, the unequal power relations that shape certain political-institutional and territorial arrangements related to water, as well as the resulting socio-environmental conflicts. This paper aims to examine the hydrosocial territories in two geographically situated study areas, in the Central Pacific and the Southern Zone of Costa Rica. Two complementary approaches are used, one quantitative and the other qualitative: (i) the systematization of water use concessions and (ii) the study of the causes, meanings and impacts of socio-environmental conflicts over water. Among the study´s main findings, it identified a significant monopolization of water concessions for extractive activities (agricultural, agro-industrial and hydroelectric production), benefiting economically powerful actors at local, national and global levels. In this context, socio-environmental conflicts over water are interpreted as a response to water injustice, from which community-based socio-environmental organizations have emerged, challenging dominant water management policies and discourses.
Maa:Portal de Revistas UCR
Organisaatio:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Portal de Revistas UCR
Kieli:Español
OAI Identifier:oai:portal.revistas.ucr.ac.cr:article/315
Linkit:https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/ciep/article/view/315
Sanahaku:Hydrosocial territories
Water concessions
Socio-environmental conflicts
Water injustice
Costa Rica
Territorios hidrosociales
Concesiones de agua
Conflictos socioambientales
Injusticia hídrica