Abstract
This paper focuses on the role of policy entrepreneurs in realizing water policy transitions.
The central questions are to what extent have policy entrepreneurs played a role in realizing major change
in water policies, who are these policy entrepreneurs, and what strategies have they used to bring about
change? The policy science literature suggests that policy entrepreneurs have an "arsenal" of possible
strategies for achieving change. Based on a comparative analysis of water policy changes in 15 countries
around the globe and the European Union, we investigate which strategies have in practice been used by
policy entrepreneurs, to what effect, and which lessons for managing water transitions we can draw from
this. The comparative case analysis shows that individuals play complementary roles; hence,
entrepreneurship in water management is often collective entrepreneurship. Strategies of coalition building,
the manipulation of decision making forums, and the strategic framing of issues and windows are crucial
to understanding water policy change, which suggests that the management of water policy transitions is
a highly political game. We conclude by listing recommendations for those who would like to direct water
policy change.
