Beyond the Neoliberal Watershed. Dis-continuities in the neoliberalisation of urban water provision

The research developed a multi-layered interpretative tool to be applied to market-oriented reforms of urban water provision, and tested it through empirical research. The empirical case study chosen is the water and sanitation provider of Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. The status of water services in the context of the transformation of welfare systems is discussed (Chapter 1). The concept of neoliberalism is introduced from a historical-theoretical perspective (Chapter 2). The concept of neoliberalism is subsequently confronted from an analytical point of view. Three analytical dimensions are identified:1. depoliticisation 2. market expansion 3. financialisation (Chapter 3). The three analytical dimensions are applied to the field of urban water provision (Chapter 4). The interpretative framework is then applied to the case study (Chapter 5). Finally, a summary of the research structure and of its results is presented (Chapter 6).