Exploration of Collective Coexistence and Social Governance of Water: A Study of the Citizens of Semirom

Abstract

IntroductionWater scarcity is one of the most critical challenges facing Iranian society in recent decades. This issue has impacted most regions across Iran. The water scarcity crisis has also spread to areas that were previously unaffected. Semirom is one of these regions, which, due to its favorable geographical and climatic conditions on the one hand, and the social management of water resources on the other hand, has been less susceptible to water scarcity in the past. Utilization of indigenous knowledge and collective conceptualization of water as a shared resource has enabled the management of water resources through community-driven cooperation. In essence, there exists a form of social governance of water rooted in principles of collective coexistence. However, for various reasons explored in this research, the water shortage crisis has now become a fundamental challenge in Semirom. The origins of this problem can be traced back to the disruption of collective coexistence and its underlying processes. This research sought to analyze and understand the dynamics of collective coexistence and social governance of water among the citizens of Semirom. To achieve this goal, the study investigated the semantic frameworks employed by Semirom's citizens in relation to water scarcity, factors influencing these frameworks, strategies adopted to address the challenge, and consequences of realizing or failing to realize these strategies. Materials and MethodsThis study employed the grounded theory method (systematic approach) to achieve its objectives. The research participants comprised citizens and water experts from Semirom. The sampling method was purposive based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 individuals from the local community and the water sector. The interview process continued until theoretical saturation was reached, which was characterized by the absence of new emergent topics and development of sufficiently robust and nuanced categories and relationships. The systematic 3-step coding method of grounded theory (open, axial, and selective coding) was utilized to analyze the interview data. Discussion of Results & ConclusionThe results revealed that collective coexistence and social governance of water resources were fundamental to water management in the past. However, these principles had been weakened by various factors. Nevertheless, the current situation showed signs of renewed collective efforts to address the water scarcity challenge in Semirom, which could serve as a turning point for water resources management in the region if strengthened. The study identified a paradigm model depicting the factors affecting collective coexistence and social governance of water. The causal conditions included environmental-natural factors (climatic changes and shifts in harvest and cultivation patterns), socio-cultural factors (inefficient water management, unsustainable consumption patterns, and demographic changes), and political-economic factors (demand-supply imbalances and corruption in water management). The strategies for effectively addressing water scarcity involved socio-cultural reconstruction (strengthening cooperation, promoting responsible water use, revitalizing collective traditions, environmental literacy, and sustainable consumption practices), managerial reconstruction (institutional coordination, systematic monitoring, and improved efficiency), and economic reconstruction (water-based economy, targeted credit, and alternative industrialization). The contexts facilitating or hindering the implementation of these strategies included the region's single-product economy and water storage policies. The intervening conditions included water commercialization, research gaps, and insufficient financing. If the proposed strategies were successfully realized, they would catalyze a form of 'biological rebirth' in Semirom, encompassing economic, social, environmental, and public health regeneration. The core category emerging from the study was "collective coexistence as the social governance of water", underscoring its centrality to sustainable water management in the region.

Keywords

• grounded theory
• collective coexistence
• semirom
• water scarcity crisis
• social governance of water