Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Water, Politics, and Sustainability: A Comparative Study of Water Governance in Australia and Iran (A Case Study of the Murray-Darling Basin and the Urmia Lake Basin)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Milad Pourghanbar 1
Faez Dinparasti 2
1 Master Student of Political Science. Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Political Science. Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.107831
Abstract
In arid and semi-arid regions, the water crisis has become a serious challenge in resource management. This research, using a comparative approach, examines water governance in two basins: Lake Urmia in Iran and the Murray–Darling Basin in Australia, based on Ostrom's polycentric framework. The aim is to analyze the role of institutional structures, organizational autonomy, policy flexibility, and the extent of social participation in the success or failure of water resource restoration. The results show that in Australia, the presence of independent institutions, effective stakeholder participation, and flexible policy mechanisms have led to resource recovery and a reduction in environmental crises. In contrast, centralized governance and weak regulatory institutions in Iran have resulted in the continuation of the crisis and the failure to restore Lake Urmia. This study emphasizes the necessity of establishing independent institutions, strengthening public participation, and developing tools such as water markets and environmental water allocations to improve water governance in Iran.
Keywords
Water Governance
Polycentric Governance
Lake Urmia
Murray-Darling
Water Resources
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Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 328-343