| The international year of fresh water represents the opportunity to look back at the seemingly irresistible movement toward privatization and at the devolution of State responsibilities in water and wastewater services. The welfare State appears to be increasingly ill-adapted to times dominated by globalisation and efficiency, while the market and the private corporations are presented as a panacea for solving the water crisis. But expectations of the market have not been met. This thesis analyses the debate over privatization of these services and the fundamental impacts on public values of introducing a market philosophy into this industry. Rather than witnessing a retreat of the State, its role is evolving although direct service provision is superseded by heavy regulation of the industry. In criticizing the neoclassical approach to the public good and regulation, the thesis argues that individualizing the process of valuing the public good fosters a culture of conflict and complexity that ultimately undermines our ability to formulate and achieve common goals. This creates an important accountability deficit. The need for environmental efficiency and democracy in an era of uncertainty requires that we search for means of expanding the reach of public values and thus suggests an even deeper reshaping of our governance structures, public and private. |
