2.2 How to do water governance research upon the Mekong?

Water governance research is a method that using critical research and direct engagement with stakeholders involved in managing fisheries, floods, irrigation, hydropower, watersheds, urban water works and integrated water management at various scales to help improve livelihood security, human and ecosystem health in a river basin. Through democratizing water governance, we can establish, as normal practice for exploring and deciding upon important national and transnational water-related management and development options, public processes for taking into consideration the rights, risks and responsibilities of different groups and perspectives. Water governance can be explained in terms of beliefs, interests, and power. Multi-stakeholder dialogues are seen as a fundamental type of event in facilitating water related interactions and social learning processes (Lebel L, Bastakoti RC and Daniel R, 2010).

China's relationship with the downstream Mekong basin countries is strategic and critical in a number of ways. China is also seen as a "soft power" of culture and ideas, and one making friends all across the region, with friendship spearheading business activities (Kate M. Lazarus, 2009). The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is funded through contributions from the four Member Countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, and through technical and financial collaborations with thirteen countries through their bilateral and multilateral development and financial institutions. The MRC also works with many diverse partners (IGOs and NGOs such as ASEAN, WB, ADB, UNDP and WWF etc.) under jointly funded projects. Since its establishment in 1995, the Mekong River Commission has strived to develop work programs and strategies that best serve its mission to provide effective support for sustainable management and development of water and related resources. However, democratizing water governance itself might often be seen by those in power as a threatening term and process (Lebel L, Bastakoti RC and Daniel R, 2010).

The proposed research would analyze MRC's Legal framework and its administration as well as China's international water policy.