Medina-Ramírez, Oswaldo M.

Scientists and practitioners have long argued about the importance of public participation in responding to water governance issues. However, inviting non-state actors to the decision-making table comes with challenges that may undermine the intended goals of participation. In this article, we review research on participation fatigue—intensified levels of stress, frustration, and exhaustion—and demonstrate its usefulness for understanding contemporary challenges to Participatory Water Governance (PWG). We begin by reviewing how fatigue is defined in various scientific disciplines. Next, we connect these diverse interpretations of fatigue to challenges experienced by state and non-state actors involved in PWG. Then, we define and operationalize the concept of participation fatigue within PWG. Finally, we demonstrate the usefulness of participation fatigue by applying this analytical framework to water management contexts where actors currently struggle with, navigate, and adapt to the challenges of PWG. Far from establishing a case against public participation, we aim to provide governments, practitioners, and scientists with the vocabulary and tools to identify, understand, and tackle an emerging threat to water governance.