A Research Agenda for Water Policy
David Benson; Fritsch Oliver; Ehsan Daryadel; Animesh Gain
Edward Elgar Publishing
2026
Sidottu
Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This Research Agenda examines the dynamic interdisciplinary topic of water policy research, exploring how the field is continually adapting to challenges and innovations which foster integration, cooperation and innovation. It provides a critical analysis of the evolution of water policy research since the mid-20th century, framing it through three interlinked dimensions - process, sectoral interaction and learning - that bridge theory, practice and policy across scales. Engaging with the entire policy process from agenda setting to evaluation, chapters identify themes of integrated water management, public participation and transboundary water governance. They highlight emerging research frontiers, including those relating to climate adaptation, urban water resilience and gender equity, shedding light on the interconnected nature of water challenges. The Research Agenda adopts a forward-looking and reflective tone, emphasising how ideas, institutions and governance models are transferred and enforced globally, and shaping learning-based and collaborative approaches to management. This book will be valuable to students and scholars of public policy and politics, environmental governance and law. Policymakers and practitioners managing natural resources and conservation will benefit from the practical governance insights proposed.