The “water crisis” has now turned into one of the major economic, environmental, and socio-political crises in Iran. This crisis did not occur suddenly and unexpectedly, but it is the result of a historical process over the past four decades. Reckless consumption and non-compliance with scientific standards, as well as lack of investment in restructuring the water production and distribution network and its diversity, and in other words, efforts towards sustainable economic development and optimal use of natural resources, including water, are among the main reasons for the current water crisis. This process is not surprising, as it is evident not only by looking at the media of the government, but also by examining the dominant discourse, which shows that “sustainable economic development” is absent. The government, relying on rent and oil revenues, neglected structural changes in the economic sector, especially in the water and energy sector. In contrast to what is emphasized in the government’s discourse, there is hostility towards modernity, superficial and sectarian

This is happening while many countries, especially developed countries, have been trying in recent years to predict and prevent environmental crises by implementing “sustainable economic development”. “Sustainable economic development” is defined as a type of balanced and multi-dimensional development that emphasizes the coexistence, compatibility, and balanced development of the three dimensions of social life: economic, socio-political, and environmental. According to the principles of “sustainable economic development”, there is a clear and strong link between progress in environmental areas such as optimal water management and economic progress, as well as issues such as citizen participation in power institutions, elimination of discrimination, and social and economic justice. “Sustainable economic development” is also a perception of development that not only focuses on the development and progress of the current generation, but also supports future generations. In this regard, social-political, economic, and environmental conditions are simultaneously considered. It is not possible to separate progress in the economic, environmental, and social-political spheres. Instead

What are the objectives of “Sustainable Economic Development”?

The goals of “sustainable economic development” consist of seventeen main goals and 169 sub-goals. Some of the most important indicators of sustainable development include access to water, eradication of hunger, access to adequate universal healthcare, access to quality education, justice and fairness in the legal system, access to clean renewable energy, employment based on fair labor standards, economic growth, innovation in technology, appropriate infrastructure, reduction of urban inequality, social security, gender and public equality, environment, harmony and unity (absence of internal tension), and the possibility of all citizens participating in political and social public management. Based on these goals, for example, it is not possible to separate access to water, eradication of hunger, access to universal healthcare, and social and economic justice. Furthermore, the foundation for access to public welfare and universal education is the elimination of internal and external tensions within a society. Global experience and history also indicate that there is a correlation between economic, environmental, and socio-political

The water crisis outlook in Iran.

The only option for the survival of a country called Iran is a transformation in the economic, political, and social structure, followed by a transformation in policymaking and management towards emphasizing the seventeen goals of sustainable economic, environmental, and socio-political development. To achieve these goals, there must be citizen participation through civil society and grassroots organizations to reduce reckless consumption of natural resources, including environmental destruction. Society’s income, especially through the government budget, should be directed towards social welfare and simultaneously towards eliminating corruption. At the same time, traditional industries should be replaced with knowledge-based industries through structural transformation. There is a close relationship between the survival of a society, sustainable economic and environmental development, and public participation. However, policy transformation within the current government is faced with serious obstacles and challenges, and if sustainable economic development is the goal, structural transformation must be the first step in policymaking. Access to economic and human resources, the will for structural transformation, and focusing on national issues and internal and external tension

Water crisis in Khuzestan

While the governor of Khuzestan – during the street protests in this province – had dismissed reports and videos related to the people’s protests in this province regarding the water crisis as fake, the demonstrations and expressions of dissatisfaction with the water shortage in various cities of this province continued for some time. Examining the most important economic and social features and challenges of Khuzestan province as the background for these protests makes understanding them possible. What specific water crisis in the economic and social sphere turns into a political turmoil. Despite having abundant rivers, Khuzestan has been one of the most water-rich provinces in the country. The agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry sectors of this province are dependent on access to water. Therefore, the scarcity of water access has a significant impact on the economy of this region and, combined with its already struggling economy, quickly turns into an economic crisis.

Some of the most important features and economic constraints of Khuzestan.

Based on the latest published statistics by the Statistical Center, Khuzestan had a population of over 4.8 million people in 2019, ranking as the fifth most populous province in the country. According to these statistics, Khuzestan – after Tehran – had the second highest gross domestic product with over 14% of the country’s total. However, the majority of this value is based on the production of the oil industry. In terms of population and share in the gross domestic product, Khuzestan ranks 18th in the country when compared to the low participation rate (percentage of citizens participating in the labor market and job search) of 40% in this province. The unemployment rate among the population aged 15 to 24 in this province is over 33%. The overall unemployment rate in this province is said to be over 25% according to some officials. In confirmation of this, Habib Aghajari, a representative of the government from

Distribution of rent in contrast to distribution based on sustainable development.

The water crisis in Khuzestan and even other provinces is not a new problem. Despite promises from officials and political and security threats, it does not seem to be a priority to solve this issue. In an economy based on distribution of power and rent-seeking, long-term economic priorities, growth capacity, and sustainable development indicators do not determine the distribution of resources. Therefore, public goods such as water, security, education, and healthcare are also subject to the cycle of rent distribution and become a form of rent. In this regard, it is the proximity to centers of power and especially the person and leadership team of the government that determines the distribution of resources. As a result, in the struggles between the government and the parliament, it is ultimately the interests of the power centers that shape the budget structure. Therefore, areas that are not close to these centers in terms of geography, politics, ethnicity, and rent distribution do not have much benefit from economic, political, and social resources. Therefore,

Although the government and parliament claim to be working towards managing the urgent and devastating water crisis in Khuzestan, the transition out of this crisis requires access to time, and that too, a long time, as well as economic resources such as credit and investment, as well as transparency, accountability, and efficiency in organization and management. None of these resources are currently available to the government. Implementing urgent and immediate plans to solve the accumulated problems of this province, which are entangled with its economic structure, is not about wasting resources and hiding temporary crises in the current situation and transferring them to the future. If the crises are structural and institutionalized, crisis management also requires addressing the root causes of the crises, which inevitably leads to structural transformation in the economic and political spheres.

The distribution of the electronic version of the journal “Economic, Social, and Cultural Status of Provinces in the Country 98-1394”

ung

2- The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung.