A Systems Perspective of Conflict Resolution in Water Resources and Environmental Management

Abstract

The many contributions contained in this book regarding the theory and practice of effectively addressing conflict in water resources and environmental management are put into perspective in this chapter. More specifically, the contents of each of the subsequent fifteen chapters are categorized within four main parts according to the systems methodology that is employed and the type of case study to which it is applied. A metaphor called the “knowledge ladder” is utilized to explain how one can ascend a ladder from data for evaluation at the first rung, to information for decision making at the second, to knowledge for management at the third, and ultimately to wisdom for peace at the top rung at which conflict is resolved. With respect to the type of application that is investigated, each chapter is designated according to the highest rung reached in the knowledge ladder.