Date of Award
Spring 5-2021
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Social Science and Global Studies
Committee Chair
Dr. Robert Pauly Jr
Committee Chair School
Social Science and Global Studies
Committee Member 2
Dr. Joseph J. St. Marie
Committee Member 2 School
Social Science and Global Studies
Committee Member 3
Dr. Tom Lansford
Committee Member 3 School
Social Science and Global Studies
Committee Member 4
Dr. Jack Kalpakian
Abstract
The Middle East and North African region continues to face significant water security challenges. The purpose of this dissertation is to gain a deeper understanding of water elites’ perceptions of water security in the MENA region. It is not meant to generalize the findings. Instead, the intention for the research is to identify, explain, and analyze by national elites' contrasting perceptions in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Tunisia.
The study examines water elites’ perceptions in four areas: current knowledge level of water security, water resource management, water service delivery, and water-related risk mitigation. These elites’ perceptions of water security will help to better align this discipline with other areas of MENA security studies such as cooperation between states; ethnic conflicts; hydro-hegemony; stabilization and nation-building; conflict, armament and regional security; and the nexus of diplomacy, development and defence; terrorism and none-state actors.
The study seeks to find out to what extent, if any, are there significant similarities and differences between water elites' perceptions of the most critical factors affecting water security in the MENA region overall and in the countries within which they live therein specifically. The author concludes that demographics and national factors drive water elites' perceptions of water security, as measured by perceptions of water resource management, water service delivery, and water-related risk mitigation, in the MENA region overall and in the countries where they live therein. This study adopted cross-country mixed-method research approach using the triangulation system.
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0330-829X
Copyright
Akari, 2021
Recommended Citation
Akari, Ghaleb, "Water Elites’ Perceptions of Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa Region" (2021). Dissertations. 1875.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1875
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