1.5 Outlook and Reader Guidance
In this book the work conducted in the DROP project is discussed and complemented with additional comparative analysis. We have constructed the book in
several distinctive sections. The first section of the book provides an introduction to
our work. This chapter is the first step in that.
Chapter 2 (Stein et al.) elaborates on the European policy perspective on drought
and water scarcity. Stein et al. provide the reader with extensive knowledge into the
directives and plans behind current European perspectives on drought. In doing so
they show how the past two decades have seen a transition from scattered policies
on generally broader water governance issues towards more direct policy actions to
adapt to and mitigate droughts. Despite more European attention, the effectiveness
of drought policies still largely depends on the national and regional translations
into initiatives and plans.
As a result of that the study of the national and regional governance context
becomes all the more important in assessing drought resilience. Chapter 3 (Bressers
et al.) discusses in detail the Governance Assessment Tool as developed and refined
in the DROP project. The authors discuss the origins of the tool in contextual
interaction theory, the dimensions and criteria that form the backbone of the tool
and the matrix that originates from these dimensions and criteria. In these matrix
evaluative questions are formulated that can be asked to local and regional stakeholders. Based on their answers and insights a judgment can be reached on whether
the governance circumstances investigated in that matrix box are supportive,
restrictive or neutral for drought adaptation. Through the collection of data on all
matrix boxes a visualization can be developed which shows in one quick glance the
governance state of affairs in that region. To create a more precise visualization,
arrows can be added to each box indicating upward or downward trends for that
box. This inserts a longitudinal aspect into the visualization. Chapter 3 ends with a
discussion of the GAT application in the DROP project, in order to discuss our
lessons learned and problems and opportunities we ran into while applying the
instrument.
After this chapter we precede to the second section of the book; that of the case
chapters. Each of the six regions from the DROP project is discussed as a case study
here, and chapter authors show how they have applied the GAT to that case, what
results they found, and what main messages they distill from that.
Chapter 4 (Vidaurre et al.) discusses case study region Eifel-Rur. Based on the
application of the GAT they conclude the current governance situation in Eifel-Rur
is ‘intermediate’, hovering between fully supportive or fully restrictive. Especially
the flexibility (room for manoeuvering) and the intensity (sense of urgency) of
drought governance in Eifel-Rur have much room for improvement. At the same
time, the authors witness an already occurring improvement in these criteria. As a
result of their analysis the authors reach a list of recommendations for the Eifel-Rur
region. For example, they advise to diversify strategies for drought preparedness by
1 Introduction
11
In this book the work conducted in the DROP project is discussed and complemented with additional comparative analysis. We have constructed the book in
several distinctive sections. The first section of the book provides an introduction to
our work. This chapter is the first step in that.
Chapter 2 (Stein et al.) elaborates on the European policy perspective on drought
and water scarcity. Stein et al. provide the reader with extensive knowledge into the
directives and plans behind current European perspectives on drought. In doing so
they show how the past two decades have seen a transition from scattered policies
on generally broader water governance issues towards more direct policy actions to
adapt to and mitigate droughts. Despite more European attention, the effectiveness
of drought policies still largely depends on the national and regional translations
into initiatives and plans.
As a result of that the study of the national and regional governance context
becomes all the more important in assessing drought resilience. Chapter 3 (Bressers
et al.) discusses in detail the Governance Assessment Tool as developed and refined
in the DROP project. The authors discuss the origins of the tool in contextual
interaction theory, the dimensions and criteria that form the backbone of the tool
and the matrix that originates from these dimensions and criteria. In these matrix
evaluative questions are formulated that can be asked to local and regional stakeholders. Based on their answers and insights a judgment can be reached on whether
the governance circumstances investigated in that matrix box are supportive,
restrictive or neutral for drought adaptation. Through the collection of data on all
matrix boxes a visualization can be developed which shows in one quick glance the
governance state of affairs in that region. To create a more precise visualization,
arrows can be added to each box indicating upward or downward trends for that
box. This inserts a longitudinal aspect into the visualization. Chapter 3 ends with a
discussion of the GAT application in the DROP project, in order to discuss our
lessons learned and problems and opportunities we ran into while applying the
instrument.
After this chapter we precede to the second section of the book; that of the case
chapters. Each of the six regions from the DROP project is discussed as a case study
here, and chapter authors show how they have applied the GAT to that case, what
results they found, and what main messages they distill from that.
Chapter 4 (Vidaurre et al.) discusses case study region Eifel-Rur. Based on the
application of the GAT they conclude the current governance situation in Eifel-Rur
is ‘intermediate’, hovering between fully supportive or fully restrictive. Especially
the flexibility (room for manoeuvering) and the intensity (sense of urgency) of
drought governance in Eifel-Rur have much room for improvement. At the same
time, the authors witness an already occurring improvement in these criteria. As a
result of their analysis the authors reach a list of recommendations for the Eifel-Rur
region. For example, they advise to diversify strategies for drought preparedness by
1 Introduction
11