Junior Researcher

Anjali Bhat
 
 
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The Impact of Decentralization Reforms upon Water Sector Reforms in Indonesia: A Comparative Analysis of Policy Implementation in Two River Basins

Government reforms promoting integrated water resources management (IWRM) and broader decentralization are responses to shortcomings of more centralized approaches to management by the state. This study examines the implementation of water reforms within two river basin cases in Indonesia, where both broader decentralization reforms and water sector reforms were undertaken simultaneously after the fall of Suharto in 1999. Decentralization reforms seek to reconfigure relationships between the central government and other levels of governance, but once implemented, this is reversible over time. As such, the study specifically explores the influence of decentralization reforms upon water sector reforms at various levels of governance (central government, river basin, province, district, and local) taking into account central government response. The Brantas basin of East Java and the Jeneberang basin of South Sulawesi provide contrasts in outcome given their differing geographic, cultural, and historical relationships to the central government. It is concluded that some of the original objectives of the water resources reforms have been reversed in the implementation phase by central government interests, but that decentralization reforms have allowed for certain reconfigurations in intergovernmental relations within the water sector to arise and sustain. The study makes clear that a longer view of reforms that includes responses to reform over time provides an important lens through which to understand a reform’s policy process, and importantly, its sustainability.
Department ZEF A: Department of Political and Cultural Change
Research areas - Natural Resource Management
- Natural Resources, Conflict and Vulnerability
- Water Security
Research countries - Indonesia
Research topic Decentralization of natural resource management, institutional choice, the politics of water policy, integrated water resources management
Working groups Natural Resources and Social Dynamics
Financially supported by U.S. Fulbright; German Academic Exchange Foundation (DAAD); The United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO); Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Cooperation partners Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia;
Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia;
Center for Irrigation, Land, and Water Resources and Development Studies,Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
Publications

Bhat, A. and P. Mollinga. 2009. Transitions in Indonesian water policy: policy window through crisis, response through implementation. In: Huitema, D. and S. Meijerink (eds.): Water Policy Entrepreneurs: A Research Companion to Water Transitions around the globe. Edward Elgar publishing,

Bhat, A. 2008. The politics of model maintenance: The Murray Darling and Brantas River Basins compared. Water Alternatives, 1(2): 201-218.

Bhat, A. 2006. “Integrated River Basin Management in Indonesia as Influenced by Decentralization Reforms: A Comparative Analysis of Policy Implementation in Two Basins.” Paper presented at the XV International Congress on Legal Pluralism. Depok, Indonesia, June 28-July 2, 2006..

Bhat, A. 2006. “Integrated River Basin Management in Indonesia as Influenced by Decentralization Reforms: A Comparative Analysis of Policy Implementation in Two Basins.” Paper presented at the Researcher-Training Workshop on Property and Access to Resources. Nexoe, Bornholm, Denmark, September 22-24, 2006.

Bhat, A., K. Ramu, and K. Kemper. 2006. Indonesia: Brantas Basin. In: K. Kemper, W. Blomquist, and A. Dinar (eds.): Integrated River Basin Management through Decentralization. New York: Springer.

Bhat, A., K. Ramu , and K. Kemper. 2005. “Institutional and Policy Analysis of River Basin Management: The Brantas River, East Java, Indonesia.” Policy Research Working Paper no. 3611. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

Birner, R., M. Cohen, R. Hopkins and A. Bhat. 2005. “Roundtable on Governance and African Human Security: Public and Private Provision of Social Public Goods, Draft Framework Statement of IFPRI Research Issues for Africa and Governance.” Paper presented at African Studies Association 48th Annual Meeting. Washington, DC, November 17-20, 2005.

Blomquist, W., B. Haisman, A. Dinar and A. Bhat. 2005. “Institutional and Policy Analysis of River Basin Management: The Murray Darling River Basin, Australia.” Policy Research Working Paper no. 3527. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

Blomquist, W., C. Giansante, A. Bhat and K. Kemper. 2005. “Institutional and Policy Analysis of River Basin Management: The Guadalquivir River Basin, Spain.” Policy Research Working Paper no. 3526. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

Blomquist, W., M. Ballestro, A. Bhat and K. Kemper. 2005. “Institutional and Policy Analysis of River Basin Management: The Tárcoles River, Costa Rica.” Policy Research Working Paper no. 3612. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

Bhat, A. and W. Blomquist. 2004. “Policy, politics, and water management in the Guadalquivir River Basin, Spain”. Water Resources Research, 40(8): doi:10.1029/2003WR002726, 2004.
Further Information: www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2004/2003WR002726.shtml

 
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