THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF WATER SECURITY UNDER CONDITIONS OF VALUE PLURALISM

Summary

The concept of water security today is shaped within a space where different, often conflicting, understandings of the value of water intersect. Attempts to treat water solely as an economic resource with clearly measurable parameters increasingly fail to reflect real-world conditions, as hydrological systems are subject to substantial anthropogenic pressure and the consequences of disrupted balance are becoming global in scale. The narrow utilitarian approach is gradually being replaced by a perspective that views water through the lenses of ecological sustainability, social justice, and cultural significance. This shift is further reinforced in the context of global population growth, escalating food security challenges, and deepening water scarcity, which make it impossible to ignore the human right to access water and food.

Of particular importance is the question of how different value regimes—ecological, social, and economic—coexist and how they shape the available hydrological space. Attempts to simultaneously account for food production needs, the rights of water as an integral component of ecosystems, and commercial interests give rise to a complex system of interdependencies. The narrowing gap between ecological constraints and human demands indicates that water security is not a static condition but a continuous process of balancing biophysical limits with social expectations. For this reason, water security is increasingly understood not as a purely technical indicator, but as a dynamic framework in which natural, cultural, economic, and political dimensions are deeply intertwined.

Within this approach, it becomes essential to recognize that water cannot be assessed outside the context of the values that define the boundaries of what is possible. Different interpretations of the role of water generate distinct conceptions of justice, acceptable hydrological pressures, and the prioritization of uses. Consequently, contemporary water security challenges require not only adjustments to technical models but also a deeper rethinking of the relationship between society and water systems. This perspective allows water security to be understood as a multidimensional space in which diverse values coexist and interact, ultimately shaping the future trajectory of water policy at the global scale.