Institutions and conflicts over water: the case on Mazapil and Coyotepec

The objective of this work is to present an analysis of the institutional role in the gestation, emergence and development of conflicts over water in Mexico. The methodology consisted of the implementation of ethnographic field work in two conflicts that arose in Mazapil, Zacatecas and Coyotepec, State of Mexico. The results show that institutional factors rela­ted to poor water management, lack of information related water, the non-prevention and care of this type of conflict and deficiencies in the rule of law, among other factors, are the breeding ground for this type of conflict. The limitations of this work are due to those of ethnographic work and case studies in terms of the generalization of the results.