Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries

The transformation of water services is among the issues that have entered the world agenda in the last 30 years. Although recommendations from international organizations affect water policies of individual countries, water privatization realized as public–private cooperation has been spurred by th...

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Main Authors: Mikail Pehlivan, Nazan Susam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2022-06-01
Series:Journal of Economy Culture and Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/99FD962943F740EE9AA343A8EFF9426B
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author Mikail Pehlivan
Nazan Susam
author_facet Mikail Pehlivan
Nazan Susam
author_sort Mikail Pehlivan
collection DOAJ
description The transformation of water services is among the issues that have entered the world agenda in the last 30 years. Although recommendations from international organizations affect water policies of individual countries, water privatization realized as public–private cooperation has been spurred by the idea of establishing new markets for global water companies. This transition is rooted in the neoliberal policies ofsuch international organizations. This study, which follows the literature review method, aims to examine the reasons underlying the privatization of water services as well as the privatization practices implemented in different countries. The results reveal that excluding the countries where privatization is offered as a credit requirement by international organizations (India, Argentina, Bolivia, and Turkey), in developed countries (France and England) where privatization is conducted without coercion, water services management has not been successful and cannot be used as an example for other countries. In contrast, many cities in developed and developing countries have recently implemented remunicipalization, returning the control of water services to public authorities. Finally, countries that have implemented privatization have failed in terms of financing, investment, and efficiency, and the privatization process has imposed additional financial burdens. Water privatization, therefore, cannot be considered as a solution to water management.
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spelling doaj-art-421e33be54474cf5bf4bec677eec0c392025-08-20T03:52:39ZengIstanbul University PressJournal of Economy Culture and Society2645-87722022-06-016512916010.26650/JECS2021-943895123456Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple CountriesMikail Pehlivan0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7273-333XNazan Susam1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4078-3217Trakya Üniversitesi, Edirne, Turkiyeİstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, TürkiyeThe transformation of water services is among the issues that have entered the world agenda in the last 30 years. Although recommendations from international organizations affect water policies of individual countries, water privatization realized as public–private cooperation has been spurred by the idea of establishing new markets for global water companies. This transition is rooted in the neoliberal policies ofsuch international organizations. This study, which follows the literature review method, aims to examine the reasons underlying the privatization of water services as well as the privatization practices implemented in different countries. The results reveal that excluding the countries where privatization is offered as a credit requirement by international organizations (India, Argentina, Bolivia, and Turkey), in developed countries (France and England) where privatization is conducted without coercion, water services management has not been successful and cannot be used as an example for other countries. In contrast, many cities in developed and developing countries have recently implemented remunicipalization, returning the control of water services to public authorities. Finally, countries that have implemented privatization have failed in terms of financing, investment, and efficiency, and the privatization process has imposed additional financial burdens. Water privatization, therefore, cannot be considered as a solution to water management.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/99FD962943F740EE9AA343A8EFF9426Bwater servicestransformation of water serviceswater privatizationprivatizationremunicipalization
spellingShingle Mikail Pehlivan
Nazan Susam
Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries
Journal of Economy Culture and Society
water services
transformation of water services
water privatization
privatization
remunicipalization
title Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries
title_full Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries
title_fullStr Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries
title_full_unstemmed Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries
title_short Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries
title_sort transformation of water services lessons learned from water privatization in multiple countries
topic water services
transformation of water services
water privatization
privatization
remunicipalization
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/99FD962943F740EE9AA343A8EFF9426B
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AT nazansusam transformationofwaterserviceslessonslearnedfromwaterprivatizationinmultiplecountries