Review of Seanna L. Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. Mabee\u27s Water as a Social Opportunity

Chung, Katherine

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

The GooseVolume 15 | No. 1 Article 558-30-2016Water as a Social Opportunity edited by Seanna L.Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. MabeeKatherine ChungYork UniversityPart of the Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons,Place and Environment Commons, and the Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public AdministrationCommonsFollow this and additional works at / Suivez-nous ainsi que d’autres travaux et œuvres:https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegooseThis article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Goose by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Cet article vous est accessible gratuitement et en libre accès grâce à Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Le texte a été approuvé pour faire partie intégrantede la revue The Goose par un rédacteur autorisé de Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Pour de plus amples informations, contactezscholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended Citation / Citation recommandéeChung, Katherine. "Water as a Social Opportunity edited by Seanna L. Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. Mabee." The Goose, vol.15 , no. 1 , article 55, 2016,https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose/vol15/iss1/55.Together on a Rising Tide of Change   Water as a Social Opportunity edited by SEANNA L. DAVIDSON, JAMIE LINTON, and WARREN E. MABEE McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015 $39.95  Reviewed by KATHERINE CHUNG  “The framing of this water crisis is a critical issue because the way in which a problem is described inherently suggests a solution.”  –Merrell-Ann S. Phare and Brendan   Mulligan, 53  “[W]ater as a social opportunity means more than just thinking positively, it means recognizing the potential to make deep structural changes in social relations through the way we respond to water problems.”  –Seanna Davidson and Suzanne von   der Porten, 161   Water plays such a vital yet constant role in our lives that it can be easily taken for granted. How can we think about and engage with water in a more conscious, active way? What is a useful approach to water issues within the context of the diverse experiences and geographies that is Canada? Possible answers can be found in this book—one of the latest in the Queen’s Policy Studies Series, which explores major public policy issues concerning governments and society in Canada and internationally.  The volume follows a 2011 Queen’s University workshop on water as a social opportunity that sought to enhance stewardship and development in the water sector, and promote the establishment of a clear national water strategy. Written by 13 authors from various disciplines and sectors, the collection of ten papers is loosely organized into three sections. Together, these papers advocate our taking a critical and creative approach to our attitudes towards water, as well as to water-related processes of decision-making and problem-solving. Broadly focusing on social opportunities “re-frames our relationship with water, as an individual, a community, and a country” (Davidson and von der Porten 161). First, we are provided with some high-level historical context around the development and fluid nature of water issues, societal goals, and governance in Canada, and are introduced to the idea of water as a social opportunity. This unifying theme, Linton argues, has the potential to drive water reform by clarifying both the problems and the benefits of pursuing change in a more meaningful way than through typical economic or business analyses (2, 11). For most of the contributors, the current fragmentation of water governance underscores the importance of developing a thoughtful, transparent, and integrated national water strategy.  This initial section also critiques the “moral silence” of the Canadian water sector (Schmidt 29), and explores how water inherently involves basic questions of social character and governance (Linton 3). In considering a plurality of water ethics, it is made clear that understanding the context of decision-making is as critical as acknowledging the biases and perspectives of decision makers; this is particularly true when dealing with complex systems such as water (Schmidt 44). A compelling portion of this first section is Phare and Mulligan’s chapter on water governance and Indigenous peoples, 1Chung: Water as a Social OpportunityPublished by / Publié par Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2016and the relationship between decolonization and water. Multiple papers in the volume make a strong call to address the historical and ongoing inequities experienced by Indigenous nations and peoples, and their claims for sovereignty. “Aboriginal rights are fundamentally environmental rights, as most Aboriginal rights are directly and indirectly connected to functioning ecosystems” (59). Given the history of colonization in Canada, collective decolonization forms a cornerstone of finding and enacting solutions for water concerns (55). Further, in exploring the broad reach of decolonizing water ethics, it is argued that all Canadians have been colonized by a mindset of unsustainable water commodification and waste (61). The middle section of the book focuses on the development of innovative governance processes and structures around water that stem from and influence the way we think and act. Case studies included in this section make for interesting reading and we learn of innovative policy and market measures applied to water and land use in Alberta, and of the complexities and challenges of municipal water governance in Ontario.  In reading these first segments of the book, I was occasionally struck by the extent to which our deeply entrenched, market-driven worldview informs the framing and messaging of various chapters. The messages sometimes even seem at odds with their expression and framing.  In one instance, alongside a critique of the “absurd” view that GDP measures progress, statements elaborate on the need to harness efficiencies of the free market in order to balance economics and sources of “natural capital” such as water (Pentland 18-19). Although these arguments may have been intentionally framed in this way to seem more relatable and persuasive to readers, the primacy given to economic prosperity as an ideal in much of the book is often undeniable and almost unquestioned. The final part of the collection highlights examples of innovative projects and transformative politics to demonstrate some of the changes and initiatives already underway in Canada. While some earlier papers were more thought-provoking and theoretical, this section was the most inspiring and exciting to read overall. From a bi-national, arms-length, and deliberately consensus-seeking roundtable informing water governance around the Great Lakes, to a dynamic nation-wide business built around dialogue and interpersonal connections, and also inclusive, community-led public engagement initiatives, these final examples bring together and illustrate the themes of the book. The multi-faceted social opportunity of water revolves around strengthening community and social relationships, and developing truly participatory, collaborative governance models. Further, it calls for a shift in our collective mindset—about sustainability, how we interact with each other and our surroundings, and how we think about and take care of water for ourselves, our environment, and the future. Some chapters of the book are more readable and engaging than others, but part of the success of the volume lies in its diversity of perspectives and content; within the framework of its theme, the collection offers many entry points for the reader to develop interests and further knowledge and understanding. A solid balance is struck between delivering information, posing questions for consideration, and sharing leads for further reading.   2The Goose, Vol. 15, No. 1 [2016], Art. 55https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose/vol15/iss1/55Somewhat less balanced is the presentation of a broader conception of equity. While the theme is recurring, I at times questioned the accessibility and value of possible solutions and approaches for the average person, and especially for those who face systemic inequities. A deeper discussion of whose social opportunity, and how to address a wider range of inequities would have strengthened the book overall. The book has format-related limitations as well. Each paper in this collection could virtually stand alone, and each concludes with a reference list; there is no collected list of references at the end of the book, nor is there an index. The inclusion of at least a bibliography would have been a welcome and user-friendly feature. The reading experience is also disrupted by some remarkably low-quality figures, including a watershed map and a sample charter. The resolution of these images is so low as to be illegible, which I found to be distracting and frustrating.  However, these shortcomings ultimately do not detract from the message or value of Water as a Social Opportunity. With a refreshing outlook on a challenging and timely subject, this collection provides diverse critical analyses of water governance issues from a Canadian context, and a comprehensive picture of water as an opportunity to build relationships and change our ways of thinking.  We are called upon to be inspired and transformed by water, in order to make a better future—together.  KATHERINE CHUNG is a graduate student at York University. Her research interests include social and environmental justice within water and food systems, questions related to mixed-race identities, and the use of popular education to disrupt inequitable power structures. 3Chung: Water as a Social OpportunityPublished by / Publié par Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2016

Water as a Social Opportunity edited by Seanna L. Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. Mabee

Scholars Commons

The Goose
Volume 15 | No. 1 Article 55
8-30-2016
Water as a Social Opportunity edited by Seanna L.
Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. Mabee
Katherine Chung
York University
Part of the Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons,
Place and Environment Commons, and the Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
Commons
Follow this and additional works at / Suivez-nous ainsi que d’autres travaux et œuvres:
https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose
This article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Goose by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Cet article vous est accessible gratuitement et en libre accès grâce à Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Le texte a été approuvé pour faire partie intégrante
de la revue The Goose par un rédacteur autorisé de Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Pour de plus amples informations, contactez
scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation / Citation recommandée
Chung, Katherine. "Water as a Social Opportunity edited by Seanna L. Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. Mabee." The Goose, vol.
15 , no. 1 , article 55, 2016,
https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose/vol15/iss1/55.
Together on a Rising Tide of Change  
 
Water as a Social Opportunity edited by 
SEANNA L. DAVIDSON, JAMIE LINTON, and 
WARREN E. MABEE 
McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015 
$39.95 
 
Reviewed by KATHERINE CHUNG 
 
“The framing of this water crisis is a critical 
issue because the way in which a problem is 
described inherently suggests a solution.”  
–Merrell-Ann S. Phare and Brendan 
  Mulligan, 53 
 
“[W]ater as a social opportunity means 
more than just thinking positively, it means 
recognizing the potential to make deep 
structural changes in social relations 
through the way we respond to water 
problems.” 
 –Seanna Davidson and Suzanne von 
  der Porten, 161 
 
 Water plays such a vital yet constant 
role in our lives that it can be easily taken 
for granted. How can we think about and 
engage with water in a more conscious, 
active way? What is a useful approach to 
water issues within the context of the 
diverse experiences and geographies that is 
Canada? Possible answers can be found in 
this book—one of the latest in the Queen’s 
Policy Studies Series, which explores major 
public policy issues concerning 
governments and society in Canada and 
internationally.  
The volume follows a 2011 Queen’s 
University workshop on water as a social 
opportunity that sought to enhance 
stewardship and development in the water 
sector, and promote the establishment of a 
clear national water strategy. Written by 13 
authors from various disciplines and 
sectors, the collection of ten papers is 
loosely organized into three sections. 
Together, these papers advocate our taking 
a critical and creative approach to our 
attitudes towards water, as well as to 
water-related processes of decision-making 
and problem-solving. Broadly focusing on 
social opportunities “re-frames our 
relationship with water, as an individual, a 
community, and a country” (Davidson and 
von der Porten 161). 
First, we are provided with some 
high-level historical context around the 
development and fluid nature of water 
issues, societal goals, and governance in 
Canada, and are introduced to the idea of 
water as a social opportunity. This unifying 
theme, Linton argues, has the potential to 
drive water reform by clarifying both the 
problems and the benefits of pursuing 
change in a more meaningful way than 
through typical economic or business 
analyses (2, 11). For most of the 
contributors, the current fragmentation of 
water governance underscores the 
importance of developing a thoughtful, 
transparent, and integrated national water 
strategy.  
This initial section also critiques the 
“moral silence” of the Canadian water 
sector (Schmidt 29), and explores how 
water inherently involves basic questions of 
social character and governance (Linton 3). 
In considering a plurality of water ethics, it 
is made clear that understanding the 
context of decision-making is as critical as 
acknowledging the biases and perspectives 
of decision makers; this is particularly true 
when dealing with complex systems such as 
water (Schmidt 44). 
A compelling portion of this first 
section is Phare and Mulligan’s chapter on 
water governance and Indigenous peoples, 
1
Chung: Water as a Social Opportunity
Published by / Publié par Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2016
and the relationship between 
decolonization and water. Multiple papers 
in the volume make a strong call to address 
the historical and ongoing inequities 
experienced by Indigenous nations and 
peoples, and their claims for sovereignty. 
“Aboriginal rights are fundamentally 
environmental rights, as most Aboriginal 
rights are directly and indirectly connected 
to functioning ecosystems” (59). Given the 
history of colonization in Canada, collective 
decolonization forms a cornerstone of 
finding and enacting solutions for water 
concerns (55). Further, in exploring the 
broad reach of decolonizing water ethics, it 
is argued that all Canadians have been 
colonized by a mindset of unsustainable 
water commodification and waste (61). 
The middle section of the book 
focuses on the development of innovative 
governance processes and structures 
around water that stem from and influence 
the way we think and act. Case studies 
included in this section make for interesting 
reading and we learn of innovative policy 
and market measures applied to water and 
land use in Alberta, and of the complexities 
and challenges of municipal water 
governance in Ontario.  
In reading these first segments of 
the book, I was occasionally struck by the 
extent to which our deeply entrenched, 
market-driven worldview informs the 
framing and messaging of various chapters. 
The messages sometimes even seem at 
odds with their expression and framing.  In 
one instance, alongside a critique of the 
“absurd” view that GDP measures progress, 
statements elaborate on the need to 
harness efficiencies of the free market in 
order to balance economics and sources of 
“natural capital” such as water (Pentland 
18-19). Although these arguments may 
have been intentionally framed in this way 
to seem more relatable and persuasive to 
readers, the primacy given to economic 
prosperity as an ideal in much of the book is 
often undeniable and almost unquestioned. 
The final part of the collection 
highlights examples of innovative projects 
and transformative politics to demonstrate 
some of the changes and initiatives already 
underway in Canada. While some earlier 
papers were more thought-provoking and 
theoretical, this section was the most 
inspiring and exciting to read overall. From 
a bi-national, arms-length, and deliberately 
consensus-seeking roundtable informing 
water governance around the Great Lakes, 
to a dynamic nation-wide business built 
around dialogue and interpersonal 
connections, and also inclusive, community-
led public engagement initiatives, these 
final examples bring together and illustrate 
the themes of the book. 
The multi-faceted social opportunity 
of water revolves around strengthening 
community and social relationships, and 
developing truly participatory, collaborative 
governance models. Further, it calls for a 
shift in our collective mindset—about 
sustainability, how we interact with each 
other and our surroundings, and how we 
think about and take care of water for 
ourselves, our environment, and the future. 
Some chapters of the book are more 
readable and engaging than others, but part 
of the success of the volume lies in its 
diversity of perspectives and content; 
within the framework of its theme, the 
collection offers many entry points for the 
reader to develop interests and further 
knowledge and understanding. A solid 
balance is struck between delivering 
information, posing questions for 
consideration, and sharing leads for further 
reading.   
2
The Goose, Vol. 15, No. 1 [2016], Art. 55
https://scholars.wlu.ca/thegoose/vol15/iss1/55
Somewhat less balanced is the 
presentation of a broader conception of 
equity. While the theme is recurring, I at 
times questioned the accessibility and value 
of possible solutions and approaches for the 
average person, and especially for those 
who face systemic inequities. A deeper 
discussion of whose social opportunity, and 
how to address a wider range of inequities 
would have strengthened the book overall. 
The book has format-related 
limitations as well. Each paper in this 
collection could virtually stand alone, and 
each concludes with a reference list; there 
is no collected list of references at the end 
of the book, nor is there an index. The 
inclusion of at least a bibliography would 
have been a welcome and user-friendly 
feature. The reading experience is also 
disrupted by some remarkably low-quality 
figures, including a watershed map and a 
sample charter. The resolution of these 
images is so low as to be illegible, which I 
found to be distracting and frustrating.  
However, these shortcomings 
ultimately do not detract from the message 
or value of Water as a Social Opportunity. 
With a refreshing outlook on a challenging 
and timely subject, this collection provides 
diverse critical analyses of water 
governance issues from a Canadian context, 
and a comprehensive picture of water as an 
opportunity to build relationships and 
change our ways of thinking.  We are called 
upon to be inspired and transformed by 
water, in order to make a better future—
together. 
 
KATHERINE CHUNG is a graduate student at 
York University. Her research interests 
include social and environmental justice 
within water and food systems, questions 
related to mixed-race identities, and the use 
of popular education to disrupt inequitable 
power structures.
 
3
Chung: Water as a Social Opportunity
Published by / Publié par Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2016


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Water as a Social Opportunity edited by Seanna L. Davidson, Jamie Linton, and Warren E. Mabee

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