Water Scarcity Crisis and Social Instability: A Phenomenological Study in the Bam Posht Region

Background and Aim: Water scarcity is a critical global risk, particularly in Iran, with extensive implications for the social, economic, and cultural structures of communities. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of residents in the Bam Posht region as they confront the water scarcity crisis in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Data and Method: This study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with ۳۷ residents of the Bam Posht district, who were selected via purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Findings: The emergent thematic pattern, titled "Social Instability and Insecure Living under Water Scarcity," comprises six main themes: ۱. Socio-economic insecurity, including the structural transition of formal livelihoods into underground economies. ۲. Social disintegration within the hydro-social crisis. ۳. Erosion of well-being and the obstruction of sustainable development. ۴. Psychological trauma and collective suffering. ۵. Social inequalities and public dissatisfaction with institutional crisis management. ۶. Resource instability and perilous migratory waves. Conclusion: The water scarcity crisis functions as a chain reaction that erodes economic structures, amplifies migratory pressures, and precipitates regional anomalies, thereby posing a profound threat to social cohesion and population well-being. This situation exacerbates social inequalities and diminishes access to essential services, significantly undermining the quality of life and hindering the region's sustainable development. Consequently, a sense of insecurity and collective suffering emerges within the precarious lifeworld shaped by water scarcity, necessitating enhanced social resilience. Key Message: Social disorder and public dissatisfaction with the inadequacy of water crisis management have fostered institutional distrust and a growing sense of injustice. Therefore, addressing this crisis requires comprehensive, participatory, and sustainable approaches that integrate social considerations into resource management.

کلیدواژه ها:

Resilience ، Security ، Social Instability ، Water Scarcity ، Well-being