Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Geography
Staff Profile
Johanna Wadsley
j.c.wadsley@open.ac.uk
Research Student
Geography
Qualifications
MRes (Geography),The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK (2007)
MSc (Science, Culture & Environment), Birkbeck, University of London, UK (2004)
BMus (Hons), University of Tasmania, Australia (1995)
Awards and achievements
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Research Studentship (2006-2010)
Research Interests
Doctorate topic
Financing Water for All: Moral Economy of Global Water Governance
Research context
The questions of ‘who gets water?’ and ‘who should pay for it?’ are central to addressing global water concerns and to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The implications for the poor of inequitable water allocation go beyond the injustices experienced by individuals and communities; not only is the burden of collecting water in developing countries largely on the shoulders of women and children, water-borne diseases reduce educational, vocational and economic opportunities for entire populations. National economic and social development therefore requires adequate access to water and sanitation, and increasing access to water is critical, in the long term, to alleviating poverty.
The value of water thus goes beyond its immediate life-giving qualities. Furthermore, access to water can, and has been, interpreted as a Human Right. However, conflict arises when it comes to deciding to who should pay for that access, what they should pay and how to subsidise the cost of providing water for the poor. Social concerns, even anger about the commoditization of water, equating water ‘value’ with price, are prevalent. Yet, recent events suggest that the ideological tensions inherent to water policy processes are currently undergoing major shifts. My PhD project examines how and why this is happening.
Technical summary
Drawing on the moral-geographic theoretical framework of Andrew Sayer and the critical discursive theory and methodology of Wetherell and Edley, utilising the concepts of ‘interpretive repertoires’ and ‘ideological dilemmas’ in particular, this project is concerned with the question of What characterizes the moral economy of ‘financing water for all’ in global water governance? The research will generate an account of how water governance actors, in their efforts to move the politics and policies forward, frame and negotiate the moral problems associated with key financial instruments and economic mechanisms utilized in global efforts to ‘finance water for all’. These include water pricing strategies, tariffs, and the role of commercial finance.
Recent Publications
Wadsley, J.C. (2007), Politics of Corporate Responsibility: The Companies Act 2006, MRes Dissertation (unpublished)
Other Interests
Prior to joining OU Geography I was privileged to have had two completely different careers. The first was as a professional timpanist and percussionist in an Australian symphony orchestra. The second involved training at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in the USA to become a expedition Mountain Instructor. I continue my interest in these fields by being an active member of the Orchestra of the City (London) and by teaching rockclimbing at The Castle Climbing Centre (London).