290
17.4.5 Concluding Remarks
MWEPs are characterised by properties that exceed those of “normal” infrastructure
projects not only quantitatively (by their mere size) but also qualitatively (by adding
entirely new dimensions to an infrastructure project). MWEPs are complex investments that encompass not only technical but also societal, ecological and institutional dimensions. This complexity requires an understanding of the collective
dynamics driving it. The answer cannot be technological approaches alone. Many
crises occur because we are unable to understand the dynamics of such systems.
There is a gap between problems and solutions. It is our task as researchers to reduce
this gap, to develop new tools to address the complexity of systems and to provide
knowledge for decision-makers regarding the behaviour and management of complex systems. But we have also to refl ect whether we use the right approaches to
understand these interrelated complexities, whether we derive fi tting recommendations or action and whether we communicate them accordingly. In a citizen- science
dialogue, we might fi nd the fi rst promising answers – but we should go further. The
role of research is to raise understanding of complex processes, to query underlying
assumptions, to uncover inconsistencies, to raise alternative options, to map out
potential futures and to broaden perspectives. In these ways researchers would not
just be providing new (specialist) knowledge but engaging with political debates
and seeking ways of informing these.
We have to invest not only in the development of new technologies, which can
reconcile environmental necessities with our human needs, but also in the capacities
of our societies and our institutions to deal with growing complexities. We can no
longer ignore the social dimensions of our decisions nor the increasing disparities
between our societies. We need adaptive and resilient societies, based on transparency and humanistic values. In planning MWEPs we have to start now, as their
lifespan far exceeds the lifetime of single human generations.
References
Acemoglu D, Robinson J (2012) Why nations fail: FBBVA lecture
Ansar A, Flyvbjerg B, Budzier A, Lunn D (2014) Should we build more large dams ? The actual
costs of hydropower megaproject development. Energy Policy 69:1–14
Bismuth C (2015) Cooperation and power asymmetries in the water management of the Lower
Jordan Valley – the situation today and the path that has led there. In: Huettl RF, Bens O,
Bismuth C, Hoechstetter S (eds) Society – water – technology: a critical appraisal of major
water engineering projects. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 189–204
Bismuth C, Hoechstetter S, Bens O (2015a) Research in two cases studies: (1) Irrigation and land
use in the Fergana Valley and (2) Water management in the Lower Jordan Valley. In: Huettl RF,
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial License, which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
C. Bismuth et al.
17.4.5 Concluding Remarks
MWEPs are characterised by properties that exceed those of “normal” infrastructure
projects not only quantitatively (by their mere size) but also qualitatively (by adding
entirely new dimensions to an infrastructure project). MWEPs are complex investments that encompass not only technical but also societal, ecological and institutional dimensions. This complexity requires an understanding of the collective
dynamics driving it. The answer cannot be technological approaches alone. Many
crises occur because we are unable to understand the dynamics of such systems.
There is a gap between problems and solutions. It is our task as researchers to reduce
this gap, to develop new tools to address the complexity of systems and to provide
knowledge for decision-makers regarding the behaviour and management of complex systems. But we have also to refl ect whether we use the right approaches to
understand these interrelated complexities, whether we derive fi tting recommendations or action and whether we communicate them accordingly. In a citizen- science
dialogue, we might fi nd the fi rst promising answers – but we should go further. The
role of research is to raise understanding of complex processes, to query underlying
assumptions, to uncover inconsistencies, to raise alternative options, to map out
potential futures and to broaden perspectives. In these ways researchers would not
just be providing new (specialist) knowledge but engaging with political debates
and seeking ways of informing these.
We have to invest not only in the development of new technologies, which can
reconcile environmental necessities with our human needs, but also in the capacities
of our societies and our institutions to deal with growing complexities. We can no
longer ignore the social dimensions of our decisions nor the increasing disparities
between our societies. We need adaptive and resilient societies, based on transparency and humanistic values. In planning MWEPs we have to start now, as their
lifespan far exceeds the lifetime of single human generations.
References
Acemoglu D, Robinson J (2012) Why nations fail: FBBVA lecture
Ansar A, Flyvbjerg B, Budzier A, Lunn D (2014) Should we build more large dams ? The actual
costs of hydropower megaproject development. Energy Policy 69:1–14
Bismuth C (2015) Cooperation and power asymmetries in the water management of the Lower
Jordan Valley – the situation today and the path that has led there. In: Huettl RF, Bens O,
Bismuth C, Hoechstetter S (eds) Society – water – technology: a critical appraisal of major
water engineering projects. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 189–204
Bismuth C, Hoechstetter S, Bens O (2015a) Research in two cases studies: (1) Irrigation and land
use in the Fergana Valley and (2) Water management in the Lower Jordan Valley. In: Huettl RF,
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
Noncommercial License, which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
C. Bismuth et al.