Water and the (infra-)structure of political rule: A synthesis

Abstract

This synthesis paper engages with the key messages which emerge from across the eight papers in this special issue. It situates them in the context of Wittfogel’s hydraulic hypothesis and its legacy. The paper seeks to synthesise the insights of the papers with the aim to reinterpret the relationship between water, infrastructure and political rule and to provide a stimulus for further research.

Keywords

• Water
• infrastructure
• political rule
• hydraulic society