Power and water conflict dynamics in water transfer systems: an analysis of the Cutzamala system in San Andrés Cuexcontitlán.

Abstract

This study analyzes the conflicts in San Andrés Cuexcontitlán stemming from the construction of the Cutzamala System since 1980. Through interviews, document analysis, and fieldwork, it examines the water transfer sections and the agreements intended to mitigate tensions. The findings reveal that the State manages dissent by systematically failing to honor these agreements, a practice that has fueled four decades of social discontent. The conflict manifests both vertically—between the State and the community, characterized by dispossession and a lack of prior consultation—and horizontally, fracturing local networks. In conclusion, this is a protracted water conflict in which the absence of an adequate legal framework and prior consultation has heightened the community's vulnerability regarding this strategic infrastructure project.