Browsing by Autor "Rickard Lalander"

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Comparative reflections on contested hydro-territorial rights in Indigenous communities of Bolivia, India and Tanzania
(Elsevier BV, 2025) Rickard Lalander; Nandita Singh; J. Fernando Galindo; Faustin Maganga; Sara Sjöling; Kari Lehtilä
In Indigenous and rural communities of the Global South, relationships between humans, water, and life are understood and organized in various ways, with water often viewed as intrinsically linked to land. These resources not only serve the tangible purpose of supporting livelihoods but also form a fundamental basis for intangible aspects such as culture, identity, and epistemic-ontological foundations. In this article, the interconnected rights to both water and land for these communities are conceptualized as "hydro-territorial rights" (HTRs). This concept encompasses the formal and/or customary norms and practices related to the ownership, access, control, and use of both land and water, which are regarded as interrelated entities. Theoretically, this article draws on rights-based critical institutionalism and political ecology approaches to natural resource governance, including the legal-pluralist distinction between de jure rights on paper and de facto rights in practice. The aim is to identify and comparatively analyze contentious situations and conflicts surrounding water and land rights in rural Indigenous contexts across three postcolonial settings in the Global South. Methodologically, we employ a comparative strategy based on theory and literature reviews to examine conflictual hydro-territorial rights situations within selected Indigenous localities in Bolivia, India, and Tanzania. This analysis is complemented by interviews with local actors and observations in these three settings. Among our findings, we highlight both conflicts and temporary alliances between local and external interests, as well as practices and mechanisms related to the colonial legacy. We also explore how contemporary capitalist developmental interventions in these areas have impacted communities' access to and rights over local water and land resources, resulting in significant consequences for local livelihoods and ethno-cultural-territorial identities.
Derechos hidroterritoriales y comunidades indígenas: Resistencias y adaptaciones al proyecto hidroenergético de Misicuni, Bolivia
(2025) Rickard Lalander; Alfredo Durán; J. Fernando Galindo
Using a theoretical-analytical model of "rights packages," this article analyzes the impacts of the construction of a State hydroelectric dam in Bolivia on the livelihoods and rights of indigenous communities, particularly in relation to land and water. Hydro-territorial rights are defined as the norms and practices that regulate access to and use of water and land, interconnected with historical struggles and livelihoods. Despite advancements in ethnic-territorial rights established in the 2009 Constitution, extractivism has grown, affecting these communities negatively. The Multiple Misicuni Project (PMM), inaugurated in 2017, aims to provide water and energy for all, but raises contradictions regarding the rights of Quechua communities. Although presented as a sustainable solution, its implementation has generated tensions with the hydro-territorial rights of these populations. The central research question is: What are the dilemmas and challenges surrounding hydro-territorial rights and the livelihoods of the Quechua communities of Misicuni? The study focuses on the dynamics of resistance and adaptation of the communities in response to the impacts of the PMM, using observations and interviews to map the conflicts surrounding their hydro-territorial rights, mainly considering perspectives from the Quechua communities. The conclusions highlight the importance of addressing these rights holistically, recognizing the complex interrelations between water and land.