Even if water is securitized, so what?

The level of securitization of water resources differs from region to region and from country to country. Nevertheless, there is a trend to securitize water resources, following the Copenhagen School. However, one can argue that measures of exception have not been taken, even though people in general may be willing to accept them. The Copenhagen School helps us understand how something becomes securitized or not, and how that justifies the adoption of exceptional measures or not. But when a topic is securitized, according to this School, but no exceptional measures are adopted, what is the point of securitizing? In the environmental arena, one can find a few examples of this type of dynamics. This paper analyses the international process of water resources securitization and its consequences. It discusses the 'exceptional' character of adopted measures and questions the reasons underlying the stalemate this topic has witnessed. The analysis will include both international and national efforts and policies, in order to illustrate the dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]