The social crisis of water in Aconcagua, Chile: privatized rights management and collaborative usage strategies in a context of mega-drought

Abstract

This article examines the emergence of collaborative water governance in response to Chile’s ongoing mega-drought, focusing on how affected actors are reshaping power dynamics to address growing water conflicts. The Aconcagua River is a paradigmatic case for at least two main reasons. First, earlier water disputes in the region provided valuable lessons that have since been incorporated into institutional practices at multiple levels. Using frameworks derived from political ecology, extractivism studies, and the commons paradigm, we investigate conflicts between actors involved in water management and the search for collaborative solutions. We applied cartographic participative methodologies, conducted 19 in-depth interviews with key actors, and engaged in participant observation in five regional water meetings between May 2023 and June 2024. The Aconcagua case illustrates how water scarcity has become a catalyst for collaborative water governance. It showcases a shift from hierarchical and exclusionary structures, where only water rights holders had decision-making power, toward more inclusive arrangements. Municipal governments, regional authorities, water cooperatives, and civil society organizations are increasingly working together to manage water resources in ways that reflect broader social and ecological values. We argue that this reorganization of power relations is driven by both institutional reform and social mobilization, as diverse actors leverage legal and political tools to promote equity and sustainability. The experience of Aconcagua offers important insights into how collaborative governance can emerge in contexts shaped by entrenched inequalities, environmental stress, and evolving legal frameworks.