Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2
Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
3
The Department of Human Geography, Islamic Azad University, Gerami Branch, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22059/jnrg.2025.394029.1035
Abstract
Water, as a vital resource and a connector of environmental, social, and economic systems, plays a key role in sustainable development and the preservation of ecosystem balance. Increased demand and competition for water resources lead to social conflicts and, if not managed effectively, can result in severe crises. In this context, social capital, as a key element in managing water conflicts, can help improve relationships among stakeholders and enhance efficiency in planning and implementing water-related projects. In this study, the social capital of local water stakeholders in the downstream area of the Zayandeh Rud watershed, which experiences water conflicts due to mismanagement, has been evaluated using social network analysis methods.This work is based on trust and participation links and utilizes macro-level network indicators (Density, Network size, Centrality, Reciprocity of ties, Transitivity, and Average Geodesic distance). The results showed that the level of social capital based on trust and participation is weak and very weak. Additionally, the level of institutionalization of relationships, stability, and balance of the network was assessed as weak, indicating a low level of trust and participation in dyadic and triadic relationships. Furthermore, the results indicated a slow rate of trust and participation circulation based on the average geodesic distance index. The results of the centrality index indicate a more centralized structure in terms of receiving trust and participation ties compared to the dispersion of these two types of ties. The correlation between the trust and participation ties among local water stakeholders, based on the QAP index, was assessed as high. Based on the obtained results, there is a need to strengthen social capital further through the enhancement of trust and participation ties in this region. Following the increase in social capital, social conflicts among local stakeholders will decrease, thereby facilitating the movement towards good water resource governance.
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