Abstract

LATARGERE, Jade. A constructivist and cultural perspective of water conflicts in the State of Morelos, Mexico. Iztapalapa. Rev. cienc. soc. humanid. [online]. 2023, vol.44, n.94, pp.49-82.  Epub Mar 17, 2023. ISSN 2007-9176.  https://doi.org/10.28928/ri/942023/atc1/latargerej.

Instead of focusing on physical problems of water resources, this article is interested in the identity of groups that struggle for water. Considering recent conflicts that have occurred in the State of Morelos, we show that water problem concern mostly peasant communities. Basing on the cultural theory of risk of Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky, we argue that they select water risk because it results important for their cultural and political organization. We explain that after the land reform of the nineties, the ejidos have lost their identity references and the main part of their political power, so water has acquired a strategic relevance for the cultural and political survival of the group. Doing this, we propose a constructivist and cultural interpretation of water conflicts in Morelos.

Keywords : Peasant communities; social construction; water risk; infrastructure; land.

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