Project

Water Policy and Social Justice in the Netherlands

MSc Thesis Vacancy

As drought risks intensify, conflicts over water allocation are becoming more frequent. In France for example, large-scale state-funded water reservoirs designed to support industrialized agriculture have led to violent confclicts and protests. In the Netherlands, a water allocation policy (i.e. verdringingsreeks) introduced in 2003 determines how water is distributed during shortages. With the increasing occurance of droughts in the Netherlands, this allocation becomes important – it will determine who gets scarce water resources and who does not. Therefore, we want to explore the fairness of this system, for instance in terms of decision-making processes (how are/were the allocations made?) and outcomes (i.e. how the water is distributed and who is prioritised?).

Potential thesis topic 1: Social Justice in water allocation during droughts

A potential first research topic could examine the Dutch water allocation policy through a social justice lens. Key questions could include:

  • How was the policy developed, and who was involved in the decision-making process?
  • Which sectors receive priority, and under what justifications?
  • To what extent does the policy reflect principles of distributive, procedural, and recognition justice?

Potential thesis topic 2: Integrating circular water into allocation policies

Alternative water sources like treated wastewater offer a potential solution to water shortages. The EU Green Deal emphasizes such circular resource use however, wastewater is not part of the formal water allocation policies discussed above.

This thesis could therefore investigate:

  • How can social justice principles guide fair and sustainable water allocation across sectors?
  • What challenges exist in integrating circular water into allocation frameworks, in terms of a fair distribution of benefits and risks?
  • How is circular water currently managed and allocated in the Netherlands?

Methodology

Both topics lend themselves to qualitative research methods, such as interviews and focus groups with policymakers and stakeholders. These research projects offer the opportunity to contribute to ongoing policy discussions on equitable and sustainable water governance. Proficiency in Dutch is required, as the research involves analyzing policy documents and conducting interviews and focus groups with stakeholders in the Netherlands.

Interested candidates are encouraged to reach out for further details to:

Dr Kirsty Holstead (kirsty.holstead@wur.nl)

MSc Noelle Lasseur (noelle.lasseur@wur.nl)