Trust in the US-Mexican Transboundary Water Governance: The Tijuana-San Diego Case

Abstract

Water governance is the steering capacity of organizations that interpret public policy priorities, while water management is the best way to implement those priorities. The purpose is to explain the drivers and obstacles to trust among binational actors, who participate in the Tijuana (Mexico)-San Diego (United States) transboundary water governance. The methodological strategy is based on the review of binational minutes, also 31 semi-structured interviews, on both sides of the border. The main finding is that trust is driven through shared ethics, which is shown in peer cooperation; while trust restricts because of different socialization actors´ styles. Recommendation to foment trust through a water civil service attending binational issues to avoid high staff rotation and learning loss.