The Introduction of Floodplain Rehabilitation and Rural Development into the Water Policy for the Tisza River in Hungary

S.E. Werners, P. Matczak, Z. Flachner

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter offers a novel interpretation of the introduction of floodplain rehabilitation and rural development into the water policy for the Tisza River in Hungary. It looks at the role of individuals and the strategies that they used to bring about water policy change. Five strategies are explored: developing new ideas, building coalitions to sell ideas, using windows of opportunity, playing multiple venues and orchestrating networks. Our discussion on the importance of each strategy and the individuals behind it is based on interviews, group discussions and a literature review. The international and political attention sparked by a series of floods, dike failure and a major cyanide spill, which preceded national elections, opened a window of opportunity for launching ideas. A new regional coalition successfully introduced floodplain rehabilitation into the water policy arena. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of a responsible civil servant who recognizes a new policy idea at an abstract level and a credible regional coalition that advocates the new idea regionally.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWater policy entrepreneurs: A research companion to water transitions around the globe
EditorsD. Huitema, S. Meijerink
Place of PublicationCheltenham
PublisherEdward Elgar
Pages250-271
Number of pages432
ISBN (Print)9781848443310
Publication statusPublished - 2010

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