D. Candidate, Sociology of Law. Lund University Centre of Excellence for the Integration of Social and Natural Dimensions of Sustainability (LUCID) Ph.D. Programme, Lund University, 2009 –

Master of Science, Lund University Masters Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Lund University, 2005

Research interests

Research is carried out in relation to water resources and the institutions, actors, structures and policies framing human interactions with and over water.  Current water governance practices and institutions, such as integrated water resource management (IWRM) and participatory models are critically examined.  Moreover, conflicting norms and discourses of water governance, such as sustainability and "water for economic growth”, are explored.  Various problems – such as power struggles over water use, rights and ownership, inequality in allocation and access to safe water supplies, social and environmental impacts of water governance practices are in focus.

PhD Project

An institutional analysis of water governance in South Africa:
A case study of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Northern KwaZulu Natal.

My interests lie in the sustainable governance of wetland resources in South Africa.  It is estimated that between 40 and 60 % of South Africa’s wetlands have been lost, mainly due to infrastructure and urban development and mining.  This brings to the fore the tensions between development and wetland conservation in South Africa, where there is a need to balance economic and social development, especially poverty alleviation and the provision of basic services such as housing, with the conservation of natural resources. 

Normative concepts in the context of water governance include those of justice; democratization and public participation; ecological integrity; and intersectional and intergenerational equity.  Nevertheless, these norms are challenged by dominant development discourses, such as “Water for Economic Growth”, that emphasize neo-liberalization, globalization and economic growth led development.  My project aims to critically explore issues around conflicting norms and discourses in the water governance sector.  Research conducted will centre on an assessment of the appropriateness of the traditional economic growth led policy paradigm for wetland conservation in South Africa.  The question will be addressed specifically with regard to the limitations of a legal regulation towards wetland conservation, in the context of pressing social development needs.  The case study focus will be on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in northern KwaZulu Natal. 

Teaching

• Teaching assistant in the “Water and Sustainability” course, Lund University International Master's Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Fall 2009.  Seminar III: Participatory action research in the context of IWRM. 
   
• LUMID thesis final comments, Spring 2010.  Ellefsen, A. & H. Kolic, 2010. Let it rain: A case study of community based water management and rainwater harvesting in Bayoudah, Jordan. 
   
• Teaching assistant in the “Political and social change in developing countries” Masters course, Lund University Social Science faculty, Fall 2010. 
   
• Teaching assistant in the “Water and Sustainability” course, Lund University International Master's Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Fall 2010.  Lecture and Seminar 2: Interrogating IWRM. 
   
• Teaching assistant in the “Governance” course, Lund University International Master's Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Fall 2010.  Lecture and Seminar: an Introduction to Norm Science. 

Publications and papers

• Nastar, M. & M. Hansen, 2009.  Water legislation – what values, which ways? Institutional path dependency and transition management in integrated water resource management in South Africa. Paper presentation at the 2009 Amsterdam Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, 2 – 4 December 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  Available from:
  http://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/ac2009/papers/AC2009-0484.pdf
   
• Hansen, M., 2005. The struggle for water in Johannesburg: A case study of the socio-economic impacts of a corporatised water and sanitation service delivery regime in Phiri and Stretford Extension 4.  Master’s thesis, Lund University Masters Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), Lund University. 
  Available from:
  http://www.lumes.lu.se/database/alumni/04.05/theses/melissa_hansen.pdf