Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries

Year 2022, Issue: 65, 129 - 160, 15.06.2022

Mikail Pehlivan Nazan Susam

https://doi.org/10.26650/JECS2021-943895

Abstract

The transformation of water services is among the issues that have entered the world agenda in the last 30 years. Although recommendations from international organizations affect water policies of individual countries, water privatization realized as public–private cooperation has been spurred by the idea of establishing new markets for global water companies. This transition is rooted in the neoliberal policies of such international organizations. This study, which follows the literature review method, aims to examine the reasons underlying the privatization of water services as well as the privatization practices implemented in different countries. The results reveal that excluding the countries where privatization is offered as a credit requirement by international organizations (India, Argentina, Bolivia, and Turkey), in developed countries (France and England) where privatization is conducted without coercion, water services management has not been successful and cannot be used as an example for other countries. In contrast, many cities in developed and developing countries have recently implemented remunicipalization, returning the control of water services to public authorities. Finally, countries that have implemented privatization have failed in terms of financing, investment, and efficiency, and the privatization process has imposed additional financial burdens. Water privatization, therefore, cannot be considered as a solution to water management.

Keywords

Water services, Transformation of water services, Water privatization, Privatization, Remunicipalization

Su Hizmetlerinde Yaşanan Dönüşüm: Suyun Özelleştirilmesi ve Ülke Uygulamaları ile Kazanılan Deneyimler

Abstract

Su ve su hizmetlerinde yaşanan dönüşüm son otuz yıl içerisinde uluslararası düzeyde dünyanın gündemine girmiş olan konulardan bir tanesidir. Uluslararası kuruluşların tavsiyeleri devletlerin su politikalarını etkilemekle birlikte, kamu-özel iş birliği şeklinde gerçekleştirilen özelleştirmeler, uluslararası kuruluşların neoliberal politikaları temelinde, küresel su şirketlerine yeni pazarlar açma fikri çerçevesinde gelişmektedir. Tarama ve değerlendirme yöntemi izlenen bu çalışmada su hizmetlerinin özelleştirilmesinin altında yatan nedenler ve farklı ülke örnekleri çerçevesinde özelleştirme uygulamalarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, uluslararası örgütler tarafından özelleştirmelerin kredi şartı olarak sunulduğu ülkeler (Hindistan, Arjantin, Bolivya ve Türkiye) bir yana, herhangi bir zorlama olmaksızın özelleştirmelerin gerçekleştirildiği Fransa ve İngiltere gibi gelişmiş ülkelerde dahi diğer ülkeler için örnek teşkil edecek bir başarı söz konusu değildir. Öte yandan birçok gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ülke şehirlerinde su hizmetlerinin yeniden belediyeleştirmeler ile tekrar kamu otoritesine geçmiştir. Kısacası özelleştirmelerin tecrübe edildiği şehirlere bakıldığında finansman, yatırım ve etkinlik bakımından başarısızlıkla sonuçlandığı görülmektedir. Bu özelleştirmeler, su yönetimine alternatif bir çözüm olamadıkları gibi ülkelere ek maddi külfetler de yüklemiştir.

Keywords

Su hizmetleri, Su hizmetlerinde yaşanan dönüşüm, Suyun özelleştirilmesi, Özelleştirme, Yeniden belediyeleştirme

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