Tragedy? What tragedy? Swords of Damocles and common property irrigation

摘要

Discourse on common pool resources that are governed by common property regimes is commonly characterized by 'tragedy' and 'threats' to 'community' cooperation. This article questions the relevance of these notions in relation to changing rural reality in the hills of Nepal. Farmers individualize water tenure to overcome the shortcomings of common property regime irrigation for diversified crops. While cooperation in irrigation may decrease, new types of cooperation emerge that reflect a wider range of institutions suited to diversified and complex livelihood portfolios.