Engineering

Abstract

Engineering is one of the social practices for which a normative practice approach in analyzing tensions in the practice can be fruitful, particularly when combined with an actor-network analysis. That is illustrated in this chapter by the Zayandehrud river case of water management in Iran. The modernist hydrocracy that was installed appeared to backfire strongly and resulted in serious environmental damage. The normative practice analysis shows how conflicting norms between different sub-practices can explain the problems that emerged. The analysis also suggests an alternative for this modernist hydrocracy.