Cover; 1 Introduction ; 1.1 Good governance as an additional element for water resources management ; 1.2 The European Water Framework Directive between role model and water policy targets of the European Union Candidate Countries ; 1.3 Turkey's water governance at crossroads ; 1.4 Current state of research, main aim and key questions ; 1.5 Methodological background, data and information ; 1.6 Thesis structure ; I Theoretical background of good water governance in the context of the European Water Framework Directive ; 2 Good governance: development, concepts and interpretations. 2.1 Governance: background and development 2.2 Good governance: development, focus and state of research ; 2.3 Interpretations of (good) governance by international and supranational organizations ; 2.4 Core elements of good governance ; 3 Water resources management: international discourse and major approaches ; 3.1 Sustainability in the scope of water resources ; 3.2 Assessment of the development of the international water policy ; 3.2.1 The international water policy discourse since the 1970s ; 3.2.2 A critical review of the international water policy. 3.3 The approach of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) 3.3.1 Water management as a holistic task ; 3.3.2 IWRM's problem-solving abilities ; 3.3.3 A complementary approach: Adaptive Water Management ; 4. The Water Framework Directive of the European Union ; 4.1 The development of the European Water Framework Directive ; 4.2 Principles and policies of the European Water Framework Directive ; 4.3 Selected environmental objectives and requirements of the Water Framework Directive ; 4.4 River Basin Management Plans according to the Water Framework Directive. 4.5 Participatory Elements of the Water Framework Directive 4.6 Requirements and assistances for European Union Candidate Countries in the water sector harmonization process ; 4.6.1 General pre-accession requirements ; 4.6.2 Relevant pre-accession implementation mechanisms and instruments in the water sector ; 5 Good water governance ; 5.1 Good water governance ; 5.1.1 Dimensions and core elements of good water governance ; 5.1.2 Learn by doing: best-practice example and water tariffs ; 5.1.3 Summary and review ; 5.2 Good water governance and the European Water Framework Directive. 6 Interim conclusion II The impact of the European Water Framework Directive on Turkey's water governance and implications for good water governance ; 7 Empirical research design and case study selection ; 8 Turkey's socio-economic background and challenges ; 8.1 Political and socio-economic structure, social movements and sustainability ; 8.1.1 Political structure ; 8.1.2 Economic and social structure ; 8.1.3 The role of the social movements and environmental non-governmental organizations ; 8.1.4 Sustainable development.