Participants will gain an overview of the controversies involved in the world’s water conflicts and acquire a good understanding of a particular issue that they choose to explore in-depth. Subjects will include multi-level water governance, disputes about the building and operation of large dams, environmental sustainability, public participation, NGOs - international and national, roles of donor governments and organisations such as the World Bank, systems of water law, water markets, environmental refugees, climate change adaptation, international relations and definitions of water security. Conflicts many forms but problems with governance is a central theme. The Rhine, Colorado, Danube, Nile, Jordan, Euphrates, the Aral Sea, Ganges, Amazon, Yangtze, Mekong and Murray-Darling river systems as well as the vast groundwater basins of northern India, China and the high plains of the United States, are just a few examples of hydrological systems in decline because of inadequate governance.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Course participants will develop their understanding and research skills in relation to the:• links between water and the world’s prospects for energy and food supply,
• impacts of climate change on water systems,
• different approaches to climate adaptation,
• centrality of governance issues involved in water related disputes, and
• the range of approaches used to achieve change and reform.
Other Information
Delivery Mode - On campus via a weekly combined three hour lecture and tutorial and through distance education. In the latter case students will be expected to take part in a regular weekly Skype tutorial.
Indicative Assessment
50% for a 2,500 word research essay, 10% for a presentation on the topic of the essay, 40% for the best eight 300 word pre-tutorial commentaries.
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
10 hours per week including three hours in class.
Prescribed Texts
Reading brick
Preliminary Reading
Fred Pearce, 2006, When the rivers run dry” water the defining crisis of the twenty first century, Beacon press, Boston.
In addition to the reading brick:-
Barnett, Jon, 2001, The meaning of environmental security: ecological politics and policy in the new security era, Zed books.
Connell Daniel, 2007, Water politics in the Murray-Darling Basin, Federation Press.
Dolsak N, Ostrum E, 2003, The commons in the new millennium: challenges and adaptations, MIT Press.
Flannery Tim, 2005, The Weather Makers - how man is changing the climate and what it means for life on earth, Atlantic Monthly Press.
Fradkin, Phillip L., 1995, A River no more - the Colorado river and the west, University of California Press.
Homer-Dixon Thomas, 1999, Environment, scarcity and violence, Princeton University Press.
Homer-Dixon Thomas, 2007, The upside of down, Text Publishing.
Hundley NJR, 2001, The great thirst: Californians and water: a history, revised edition, University of California Press.
Lant C, (Ed) 2006 Dec, ‘Integrated water Resources Management - new governance, tools and challenges' (special issue 135) Journal of Water Research and Education
Young Oran, 2002, The institutional dimension of environmental change. Fit. Interplay and scale, MIT Press.
Lee Kai N, 1993, Compass and Gyroscope - integrating science and politics for the environment, Island Press.
McDonald Bernadette, Jehl Douglas, (Eds) 2003, Whose water is it - the unquenchable thirst of a water-hungry world, National Geographic.
Postel Sandra, Pillar of Sand - Can the irrigation miracle last? W W Norton & Company.
World Commission on Dams, 2000, Dams and Development - a new framework for decision making - the report of the World Commission on Dams, Earthscan Publications.
Postel Sandra, Richter Brian, 2003, Rivers for Life - Managing water for People and Nature, Island Press.
Reid WV, (Ed) 2005, Millennium ecosystem assessment: Ecosystems and human well being, - synthesis report, World Resources Institute, Island Press.
Young Robert A, 2005, Determining the economic value of water: concepts and methods, Resources for the Future.
Assumed Knowledge
No assumed knowledge.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1338 | |
| 2014 | $3582 | |
| 2013 | $3582 | |
| 2012 | $3582 | |
| 2011 | $3576 | |
| 2010 | $3570 | |
| 2009 | $3570 | |
| 2008 | $3402 | |
| 2007 | $3132 | |
| 2006 | $3084 | |
| 2005 | $2988 | |
| 2004 | $2412 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $3672 |
| 2014 | $4146 |
| 2013 | $4140 |
| 2012 | $4140 |
| 2011 | $4134 |
| 2010 | $4134 |
| 2009 | $4002 |
| 2008 | $4002 |
| 2007 | $3864 |
| 2006 | $3864 |
| 2005 | $3864 |
| 2004 | $3864 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4475 | 17 Feb 2014 | 07 Mar 2014 | 31 Mar 2014 | 30 May 2014 | In Person | N/A |
