Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Towards transition management of European water resources

  • Chapter
Integrated Assessment of Water Resources and Global Change

Abstract

Global change fundamentally changes the nature of water-related problems. We will illustrate this by showing how perceptions of the water-problems in the Netherlands have shifted in the past four decades. The nature of water-related problems changed from a technical problem to a so-called ‘persistent’ problem, characterized by plurality, uncertainty and complexity. Although integrated water resource management (IWRM) has been advocated to cope with this type of problem, the complexity of the transition process towards such a water management regime is often underestimated. Therefore, transition management is needed in the water sector. Transition management theory is presented and applied to the Dutch case. Transition management strategies are suggested that would reinforce this transition. Comparison between the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and transition management indicates that the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) in its current form is not sufficiently stimulating an innovation climate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arthur BW (1988) Competing technologies. In: Dosi G (ed) Technological change and economic development. Printer, London/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout F, Smith A, en Stirling A (2003) Socio-technical regimes and transitions contexts. SPRU Electronic Working Paper Series

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosch A, Ham Wvd (1998) Twee eeuwen Rijkswaterstaat, 1798–1990. (Two centuries Rijkswaterstaat, 1798–1990). European Library, Zaltbommel

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruijn DD, Hamhuis D, Nieuwenhuijze Lv, Overmars W, Sijmons D, Vera F (1987) Ooievaar: De toekomst van het Rivierengebied. (Stork: the future of the riverland). Gelderse Milieufederatie, Arnhem, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirven J, Rotmans J, Verkaik A (2002) Samenleving in transitie: Een vernieuwend gezichtspunt (Essay). Innovatienetwerk Agrocluster en Groene Ruimte, Den Haag

    Google Scholar 

  • EC (2000) EU Water Framework Directive (No. 2000/60/EC). Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Geels FW, Kemp R (2000) Transities vanuit sociotechnisch perspectief (Essay). MERIT, Maastricht

    Google Scholar 

  • Gersick CJG (1991) Revolutionary change theories: a multi-level exploration of the punctuated equilibrium paradigm. Acad Manage Rev 16(1):10–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ham Wvd (1999) Heersen en Beheersen, Rijkswaterstaat in de twintigste eeuw. (Rule and Control, Rijkswaterstaat in the 20th century). European Library, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland JH (1995) Hidden order: how adaptation builds complexity. Helix books/Perseus Books, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauffman S (1995) At home in the universe: the search for laws of complexity. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp R, Schot J, Hoogma R (1998) Regime shifts to sustainablilty through processes of niche formation: the approach of strategic niche management. Technol Anal Strateg Manage 10:175–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Lintsen H (2002) Two centuries of central water management in the Netherlands. Technol Cult 43:549–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loorbach D, Rotmans J (In press) Managing transitions for Sustainable Development. In: Wieczorek AJ, Olsthoorn X (eds) Industrial Transformation-Disciplinary approaches towards transformation research. Kluwer

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann N (1984) Soziale systemen. Suhrkampf, Frankfurt

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson RR, Winter SG (1982) An evolutionary theory of economic change. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I, Stengers I (1984) Order out of chaos: man’s new dialogue with nature. C.O. New Science Library, Boulder

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravetz JR (1999) What is post-normal science. Futures 31(7):647–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rijkswaterstaat (1964) Eerste nota Waterhuishouding (1st national policy memorandum on water management). Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijkswaterstaat (1982) Tweede nota Waterhuishouding (2nd national policy memorandum on water management). Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijkswaterstaat (1989) Derde nota Waterhuishouding (3rd national policy memorandum on water management). Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijkswaterstaat (1992) Omgaan met de Omgeving (Dealing with the surrounding area). Ministry of Transport, Public Works and water management, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Rijkswaterstaat (1998) Vierde nota Waterhuishouding (4th national policy memorandum on water management). Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • RIZA (1985) Omgaan met water (Dealing with water). Rijkswaterstaat, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotmans J (1994) Transitions on the move. Global dynamics and sustainable development. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotmans J, Kemp R, van Asselt M (2001) More evolution than revolution: Transition management in public policy. Foresight 03(01):17

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotmans J, Kemp R, van Asselt M, Geels F, Verbong G, Molendijk K (2000) Transitions & transition management: the case of a low emission energy supply. ICIS/MERIT, Maastricht

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotmans J, Loorbach D, van der Brugge R (2005) Transitiemanagement en duurzame ontwikkeling: Co-evolutionaire sturing in het licht van complexiteit. Beleidswetenschap

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabatier PA, Jenkins-Smith HCJ (1999) The advocacy coalition framework, an assessment. In: Sabatier PA (ed) Theories of the policy process. Westview Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Saeijs HLF (1991) Integrated water management. A new concept: from treating of symptoms towards a controlled ecosystem management in the Dutch delta. Lands Urban Plan 20:245–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smits R, Kuhlmann S (2004) The rise of systemic instruments in innovation policy. Int J Foresight Innov Policy 1(1/2):4–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Brugge R, Rotmans J, Loorbach D (2005) The transition in Dutch water management. Regional Environmental Change, Online first(1)

    Google Scholar 

  • Varela F, Maturana H, Uribe R (1974) Autopoiesis: The organization of living systems, its characterization and a model. Biosystems 5:187–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WWF (1992) Levende Rivieren (Living rivers). World Wildlife Fund, Zeist, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. D.R.I.F.T — Dutch Research Institute For Transitions, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Faculty of Social Sciences, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Rutger van der Brugge & Jan Rotmans

Authors
  1. Rutger van der Brugge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Rotmans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Global Water System Project, Bonn, Germany

    Eric Craswell

  2. UNESCO Division of Water Sciences, Paris, France

    Mike Bonnell

  3. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Deborah Bossio

  4. Federal Institute of Hydrology, Koblenz, Germany

    Siegfried Demuth

  5. University of Freiburg, Germany

    Siegfried Demuth

  6. Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

    Nick Van De Giesen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

van der Brugge, R., Rotmans, J. (2006). Towards transition management of European water resources. In: Craswell, E., Bonnell, M., Bossio, D., Demuth, S., Van De Giesen, N. (eds) Integrated Assessment of Water Resources and Global Change. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5591-1_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation