A Historical Review on the Social Dimensions of Water Law Adoption in Iran

This study, using Max Weber's sociological theory of law, intends to examine the trans-law factors that have led to the formulation of water laws in Iran over different periods. Therefore, the political and social factors that have caused changes in the water laws of the country have been studied. The results showed that the most important factor in changing water laws in Iran is water ownership. Prior to land reform, water was privately owned in Iran. But after land reform, water was managed and protected by the government. Although private ownership of water was re-enacted after the Islamic Revolution, the political conditions and goals of various governments led to the development of water resources without regard to private ownership. The results showed that in the formulation of water laws, international factors in the pre-revolutionary period, and political and anti-ecological justice in the post-revolutionary period, were the most important trans-law factors that influenced the formulation of water laws. Since the changes in the laws were not based on the quantity and quality of available water resources, but rather on the political and social conditions, these changes in laws did not lead to sustainability in water resources.