UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Water as a tool for development. An analysis of the conflict of the Ñuble River, Chile

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.26686/wgtn.17005579

Authors

Cristian Leaman-Constanzo

Reported year

2013

Reported language

en

Source type

dissertation

First detected

2026-11-09T19:13:38.734026+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:13:38.734026+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Victoria University of Wellington

Documentary abstract — original language

After three decades of neoliberal policies, there are growing concerns in Chile about how nature is used and understood. These concerns are reflected in the relationship between humans and natural water bodies which has reconceptualised the use of and access to water, especially for rural communities. These reconceptualisations have been affected by the model of water rights and river basin governance adopted which have raised issues about social inequality. As a result, rural communities have argued for greater participation in decision-making on matters that affect their lives. This thesis explores conflict that arose around the Punilla Dam Project on the Ñuble River, Biobío Region in Chile. The research employs a political ecology perspective to explore the socio-environmental outcomes of water management in this case and in Chile more generally. The case illustrates how water is important for Chile as a tool for development, the role environmental institutions play, and the tensions between peasant communities, irrigators and hydroelectric interests, while placing these tensions in the context of wider economic and political structures. It is clear that water is key in Chile, hence an examination of the encounter between the model of development and nature is required. I argue that the outcomes of these encounters will increase social inequality and marginalisation, showing that a water project is not always good for all. The omission of these issues in places often rich both in biodiversity and socio-cultural heritage is a cause of concern for Chile and more globally.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W4226071801

DOI

10.26686/wgtn.17005579

Documentary context

Documentary family

Thesis

Source-reported types

dissertation

Jurisdictions studied — explicit sources

CL

Natural entities mentioned

River

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.17005579
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W4226071801

Documented bibliographic relations

Source-declared references and links; they do not establish legal support or UGLC qualification. Up to 20 outgoing references are displayed.

• openalex:w120258522 · CITES
• openalex:w1489901752 · CITES
• openalex:w1519481750 · CITES
• openalex:w1528022241 · CITES
• openalex:w1573134954 · CITES
• openalex:w1599420887 · CITES
• openalex:w1604414094 · CITES
• openalex:w1610340580 · CITES
• openalex:w1643665075 · CITES
• openalex:w1709012742 · CITES
• openalex:w1714723801 · CITES
• openalex:w1786288520 · CITES
• openalex:w1881222235 · CITES
• openalex:w1899753561 · CITES
• openalex:w1939041714 · CITES
• openalex:w1963611924 · CITES
• openalex:w1964840389 · CITES
• openalex:w1969600308 · CITES
• openalex:w1971421837 · CITES
• openalex:w1975300975 · CITES

0 incoming references within the detected corpus

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.