The Social Life of Water

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Synopsis

Everywhere in the world communities and nations organize themselves in relation to water. We divert water from rivers, lakes, and aquifers to our homes, workplaces, irrigation canals, and hydro-generating stations. We use it for bathing, swimming, recreation, and it functions as a symbol of purity in ritual performances. In order to facilitate and manage our relationship with water, we develop institutions, technologies, and cultural practices entirely devoted to its appropriation and distribution, and through these institutions we construct relations of class, gender, ethnicity, and nationality. Relying on first-hand ethnographic research, the contributors to this volume examine the social life of water in diverse settings and explore the impacts of commodification, urbanization, and technology on the availability and quality of water supplies. Each case study speaks to a local set of issues, but the overall perspective is global, with representation from all continents.

Book details

Author:
John R. Wagner
ISBN:
9780857459671
Related ISBNs:
9780857459664, 9781782389101
Publisher:
Berghahn Books, Incorporated
Pages:
326
Reading age:
Not specified
Includes images:
No
Date of addition:
2021-05-22
Usage restrictions:
Copyright
Copyright date:
2013
Copyright by:
N/A 
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Categories:
Nonfiction, Outdoors and Nature, Science, Social Studies