The role of the power relations and deliberative democracy in the decision-making process of water management : the case of the lake Tämnaren water council in Uppland, Sweden

Sammanfattning: This thesis is an examination of the manner in which the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD) has been implemented in Sweden. This policy document that aims at improving water quality for Europe came into operation in December 2000. In 2004, Sweden went on the stage of implementation that eroded its national water management policy. An innovation that received much emphasis from this policy framework was the concept of public participation in the management of water resources in all member state countries. Sweden in the course of the implementation process created different water management institutions among which were Water Councils (WCs) at the local level. These water councils are made up of representatives from different interest groups from both the public and private sectors like Water Authorities, Municipalities, farmers, landowners and some organizations. According to the guidelines on public participation, decisions on water management must be made in a participatory process with water authorities taking into consideration the views presented by all those present on the decision-making table. The guidelines on public participation according to the WFD stipulate that there must be “integration” of decision-making levels and values for the effective management of all waters. This thesis takes a case study design with an examination of how the concept of public participation has been practiced in the Lake Tämnaren Water Council. After having identified the problem which centered on “integration” of power and values, I considered two different levels of public participation which are power and deliberative democracy on which I developed theoretical concepts. Since the research took a qualitative approach or strategy, empirical data was collected through interviews with semi-structured and unstructured questions. The research found that power disequilibrium among the different actors in the WC and the fact that the WC has not yet been able to serve as a forum for deliberative democracy has hindered the “integration” of decision-making levels and values and as such public participation has been more of the information and consultation forms as water authorities are unwilling to relinquish power.