Contribution short abstract

Review of two conceptual frameworks, Integrated Water Resources Management and Political Ecology of Water, their trajectories, positions, and tensions, aiming to characterize the context, and seek to contribute to the dialogue between both approaches in Uruguayan water management.

Contribution long abstract

In the context of global socio-environmental crisis and accelerated environmental degradation, water management faces growing challenges. This poster aims to review, compare, and put into dialogue two relevant conceptual frameworks: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the Political Ecology of Water, in order to characterize their impact in Uruguay. The theoretical foundations, historical evolution of both frameworks are analyzed through a systematic mapping of literature and regulations. The analysis is then applied to observe a case in the Uruguayan context. Although both frameworks emerged in the 1970s, no studies were found that actively compare them. It is recognized that from their inception, they followed different paths. IWRM has a technical-regulatory profile and institutional imprint, linked mainly to international agreements. While Political Ecology of Water takes a critical view of power and justice, focusing on increasingly conflictive territorial realities. Looking at the context of Uruguay, the case of a constitutional reform promoted by organized civil society stands out. In the reform, water is recognized as a human right, resulting in a civil society driven implementation of Water Policy aligned with the principles of IWRM. However, tensions continue to arise throughout the implementation of the reform, with the dialogue between societal needs and policymakers frequently disrupted or constrained. This study contributes to the analysis of the dialogue between both approaches, understanding that their integration and coordinated work requires critical reading, greater participation, and the reclaiming of territorial knowledge for more democratic water management.