Mobilization of bias: learning from drought and flood crises in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Jakarta

This article examines water crises in three megacities (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Jakarta) in the Global South. While crises can delegitimize the dominant water policy and lead to policy change, this does not necessarily come about in all cases. Drawing data from key informant interviews, newspaper articles and policy documents, and using Steven Lukes’ three faces of power framework, we observe how crisis framing has reinforced large infrastructures for water supply and flood protection. In the three case studies, powerful actors combined the three faces of power to shape public opinion in pursuit of their own agendas.