Architectures of Desalination: A Multilevel Comparative Analysis of Israel and Spain

Abstract: Water scarcity has become a serious problem for countries exposed to greater climate variability, for reasons related to the morphology of the territory, poor resource management, and climate change. Often, these three factors are linked, causing significant discomfort to the national and interregional balance. This paper proposes an integrated strategic analytical model inspired by the comparison of two profoundly different models: the Spanish and Israeli models of water management and production. While the Spanish model complies with high environmental safety standards, the Israeli model aims for a much faster, more centralized decision-making infrastructure, more oriented towards economies of scale and production performance. The comparison makes it possible to observe how governments share technological outcomes and determine how desalination can be a tool for longterm water stability. The findings point to important trade-offs between centralization, flexibility and sustainability that policymakers must consider when relying on desalination to strengthen water security.