Constraints on collective action in a transitional economy: The case of Bulgaria's irrigation sector

Irrigation, until recently a major water user in Bulgaria, has been drastically affected by the political and economic changes that came about after the collapse of the socialist system. Collective action might be a way for societies to overcome the well-known common-pool resource dilemma, thereby securing sustainable water management. This article questions whether measures to facilitate local self-governance could be successful in Bulgaria. Empirical results suggest that local actors use power asymmetries to maintain their opportunistic strategies, and the governance of information plays an especially important role. Moreover, distrust between community members plays a crucial role in constraining the evolution of social capital, which is a prerequisite for collective action. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.