How Can Intentionality and Path Dependence Explain Change in Water-Management Institutions in Uzbekistan?

Abstract

We review historical and contemporary literature on change in water-management institutions in post-socialist Uzbekistan, exploring the dynamics of change of formal institutions in irrigationwater management there by analyzing relationships between the perceptions and beliefs of policymakers, policy interventions they undertake, and the consequences that these seem to have on resource-use practices. We have mainly relied on the reviewed literature, but have also made use of expert interviews conducted by the authors during 2011-2016 in Uzbekistan. Our results indicate that Uzbek policymakers have learned much from the unanticipated and undesired consequences of earlier irrigation reforms, as their perceptions and beliefs have changed and developed over time. Yet, although policymakers' beliefs have been fostered by a newly emergent Integrated Water Resources Management approach-which has become a central, globally promoted paradigm-the beliefs and institutions inherited from the Soviet era, as well as informal practices in irrigation-water use, have also been acting to constrain the choices of politicians and economic entrepreneurs.

Anti-erosion technology of potatoes irrigation on typical Chirchik-Angren valley serosemes

“…Research on the development of scientifically based techniques and technology for irrigation of crops, in particular potatoes on lands subject to irrigation erosion is of great relevance, important economic and environmental importance [10,14,17,18,19,20] .. The aim of the research was to develop an anti-erosion technology for watering and obtaining high potato yields on typical serozem Chirchik -Angren Valley.…”

Who Governs at What Price? Technocratic Dominance, Ways of Knowing, and Long-Term Resilience of Brazil's Water System

“…For example, research on subsiding deltas across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. emphasizes, among other factors, the role of technical experts in maintaining a pathdependence on technocratic approaches that exacerbate, rather than mitigate, delta subsidence (Seijger et al, 2017). However, in post-socialist Uzbekistan, attempts from technocrats to introduce IWRM were received with distrust by the central government who perceived the move as an attempt to hollow out their power to manage water (Hamidov et al, 2020). In addition to knowledge, empirical research has documented how differing perspectives on uncertainty between scientists and practitioners of different sectors have influenced decision-making and contributed to tensions between actors engaged in water management (Höllermann and Evers, 2017).…”

Editorial: Introducing “Transformation in Common-Pool Resources Management in Central Asia”

“…Hamidov, Kasymov, Salokhiddinov and Khamidov (2020) "How Can Intentionality and Path Dependence Explain Change in Water-Management Institutions in Uzbekistan?" However, why and how do formal institutions change in the first place?…”

“…The next article introduces another conceptual perspective to shed light on the underlying processes of institutional choice. Hamidov et al (2020) employ the concept of intentionality of institutional change in their review of recent reforms in agricultural water management in Uzbekistan. In their analysis, the authors follow North (2005) in assuming that the intentionality and evolutionary nature of institutional change is shaped by the evolution of belief systems:…”

“…Applying this concept empirically, Hamidov et al (2020) argue that policymakers in Uzbekistan designed irrigation reforms based on their shared beliefs, which were strongly influenced by external actors -meaning here international development agencies -who promoted a blueprint solution through implementation of an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach across the nation. However, the institutional choices of Uzbek policymakers have also been constrained by formal institutions inherited from the Soviet period as well as by traditional, informal water management practices.…”