Critical Systems Heuristics for Sustainable Management of Iran's Water-Energy-Food Nexus

Journal of Systems Thinking in Practice

مقالات آماده انتشار، پذیرفته شده، انتشار آنلاین از تاریخ 08 بهمن 1403

نوع مقاله: Research Article

شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22067/jstinp.2025.91072.1130

نویسندگان

Samira Ebrahimi¹؛ Mohammad Reza Fathi^{* 2}؛ Meisam Shahbazi³

¹PhD Student, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

²Associate Professor, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Iran

³Associate Professor, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran

چکیده

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus represents a critical framework for sustainable development, ensuring human survival and ecological balance amidst increasing resource pressures from population growth, urbanization, climate change, and economic development. While many models aim to address this nexus, they often focus narrowly on specific sectors rather than adopting a comprehensive, holistic perspective. This study applies Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH), a reflective and emancipatory approach, to explore the systemic challenges and hidden assumptions within the WEF nexus in Iran. The research involved 25 experts from diverse fields—energy (n=6), water (n=5), food (n=4), academia (n=6), and systems (n=4)—selected through purposive sampling to ensure diverse perspectives. Using boundary critique, the study examines current realities (“is” states) and ideal visions (“ought” states) through twelve boundary questions that assess sources of motivation, power, knowledge, and legitimacy.Findings reveal fragmented decision-making structures, short-term planning approaches, and insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration as significant obstacles to sustainable resource management. While decision-making authority is concentrated in isolated governmental sectors, the study highlights the need for integrated management frameworks that align with long-term sustainability goals, emphasizing public welfare, environmental preservation, and inclusivity. Additionally, the research uncovers a gap in leveraging relevant expertise, with reliance on politically influenced appointments over merit-based inclusions.The study advocates for systemic reforms, including interdisciplinary stakeholder engagement, the establishment of a unified governance body for the WEF nexus, legislative adaptations, and the integration of renewable energy and sustainable agricultural practices. These strategies aim to shift decision-making from short-term political gains to fostering resilience and equity for current and future generations.By addressing the socio-political, technical, and ecological dimensions of the WEF nexus, this research provides actionable insights for policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers, contributing to a more integrated, sustainable approach to resource management in Iran.

کلیدواژه‌ها

Nexus Governance؛ Systems Thinking؛ Sustainability؛ Soft and Emancipatory Operational Research؛ Critical Systems Thinking