The Brazilian and Australian political-institutional scenario concerning water resources management

Aim: This research aims to analytically compare the functioning of the institutional procedures concerning water resources management in Brazil and Australia. Method: Through a literature review and document analysis, this paper presents a characterization of the Brazilian and Australian political-institutional water management scenarios based on both direct and indirect information sources. It then compares the institutional processes of these two countries using a SWOT matrix analysis, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Novelty/Relevance: This research seeks to fill a scientific information gap by examining how actors in both developing and developed countries' influence decision-making toward more sustainable environmental management, using water management as a case study. Results: The results show that both countries have legislation prescribing decentralized and participatory decision-making processes. However, the implementation of this legislation does not guarantee democratic management of hydric resources. Moreover, the stages and scopes of legislative implementation and execution differ between Brazil and Australia. The Brazilian institutional scenario demonstrates a weaker capacity for implementing and enforcing water legislation compared to Australia, where a more developed water management system exists, and society shows greater willingness to proactively engage in management. Social/management contributions: This diagnostic approach can help examine other environmental management scenarios by presenting institutional patterns within a given territory and demonstrating the causalities that may lead to states having varying levels of capacity.