State power and domestic water provision in semi-arid Northwest China: Towards an aleatory political ecology

摘要: Abstract Between 2005 and 2010 state actors constructed a centralized piped water system to serve 50,000 rural households in semi-arid region of Northwest China. However, the intended beneficiaries this project largely chose not connect system, were often ambivalent towards its success. I explain ambivalence through Foucault’s (2007) engagement with role aleatory formation modern power. The is those elements risk, chance contingency that cannot be fully controlled, but can calculated adverse effects thereof mitigated what Foucault calls apparatuses security. Managing was central moment emergence governmentality as means exercising Peasants’ originates success previous state-backed improved rainwater-harvesting program has significantly reduced peasants’ risk shortage placed control risks shortage. By improving ability cope drought, rainwater harvesting decentralized power over knowledge about household resources. In contrast, both water, hands actors, interacted local markets ways empower reduce from natural sources state. shifting reconfigurations shortages how been extended management despite population’s selective water.