ABSTRACT
Historically marked by an unequal distribution of water, the
Brazilian State of Ceará has most of its territory in the Brazilian
Semi-Arid, the most populated semi-arid zone of the planet. Thus, this state
has experienced numerous crises of water scarcity, in which the hydrological
risk becomes a systemic risk due to its importance and multisectoral potential.
Within this general framework, this work proposes to test if the mechanisms of
water governance in Ceará favor the participation and democratization of
the decision-making processes around this resource, considering these features
as a
potential element for promoting a more democratic access to
water, and thus a possible re-composition of social and economic relations,
especially in the rural areas of the state. The objective here is to analyze
water governance in the state of Ceará, highlighting its achievements
and weaknesses in terms of participation. This analysis leads to the finding of
a hybrid model of governance, combining elements of two different paradigms of
response to water crises in the state.
KEYWORDS
83
Brazil, Ceará, Nordeste, Semi-arid, Water resources,
Governance, Participation
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