Investigating Principles of Good Governance in Tacit Knowledge of Qasabeh Gonabad Qanat

The complexity of human-natural systems has drawn attentions towards governance approaches, based on which is the Good Governance Theory. Scholars have proposed various principles for achieving good governance given the contextual conditions. Qanat is one of the most significant innovations of Iranian in dealing with water scarcity. Being one of the oldest Qanats in the country, Qasabeh Gonabad Qanat survived through thousands of years, benefiting from tacit knowledge. Despite richness of Iranian tacit knowledge, only technical and structural dimensions have received proper attention. Thus, due the necessity of studying tacit knowledge and good governance principles, the present study adopted library research and comparative analysis method and tried to link Iranian tacit knowledge to water governance approaches along with investigating principles of good governance in tacit knowledge in Qasabeh Gonabad Qanat. Our results indicated presence of several good governance principles including collaboration, adaptability, transparency, accountability, consensus oriented, rule of law and efficiency and effectiveness in the tacit knowledge of this Qanat.