A Failed Fairy Story, with Ongoing Consequences

This chapter covers roughly the period 1990–2015, examining the global expansion of water privatization policies, promoted as an instrument to foster democratization, reducing inequalities and improving living conditions worldwide. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative evidence, it discusses the myths, ideological claims, unsupported arguments, and mostly undemocratic and even illegal practices used to justify and impose these policies, particularly though not only in developing countries. It emphasizes the fact that the promised private investment flows to expand access to essential water and sanitation services mostly did not materialize or left out the world regions housing the bulk of the unserved global population. The chapter examines the shambles of these policies, crudely manifested in disastrous business results for multinational corporations, widespread social and political conflicts in the target countries, and their failure in helping to meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goals.