Drinking Water: A Socio-economic Analysis of Historical and Societal Variation

"Theoretically generative, methodologically creative, richly comparative, and politically engaged, Drinking Water doesnt just work within the Polanyian tradition, it substantively reinvents that tradition. Working imaginatively around the nexus of political economy and political ecology, Mark Harvey and his colleagues confront the question of urban drinking water not just as a 'policy problem,' but as a departure point for a bold exploration of the diverse properties of water as an unruly public good, as an uncooperative commodity, as a mercurial space of state regulation, as an enduring biosocial necessity, and more. This is a truly original and important book." Jamie Peck, University of British Columbia, Canada. "A fine and fascinating book, exploring the inter-relationship of natural resources, property rights, economic organisation, forms of exchange and modes of consumption, and offering intriguing detail, telling analysis, theoretical sophistication and political relevance." Alan Warde, University of Manchester, UK. "A major contribution to political economy that explains how drinking water came to flow from tap in some countries but is purchased in bottles in others." Frank Trentmann, Birkbeck, University of London, UK.

Mark Harvey is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation, University of Essex, UK.

1. Properties of Water Mark Harvey 2. London Drinking: Historical Transformations of Water Mark Harvey 3. Configuring Bottled Water in Europe Adrian Evans and Mark Harvey 4. Divided Delhi: Bricolage Economies and Sustainability Crises Aviram Sharma and Mark Harvey 5. Mexico City: Up in the Sky without a River Daniel Figueroa and Mark Harvey 6. Taiwan Water: Little Island, Waves of Power William Li and Mark Harvey 7. Water Variations Mark Harvey