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El oasis de Comondú es un agroecosistema de gran riqueza ecológica y cultural estrechamente ligado a la presencia de agua en un entorno árido. La subsistencia de sus poblaciones desde antes de la época misional hasta nuestros tiempos es una muestra explícita de sustentabilidad. Sin embargo, condiciones socioeconómicas y ambientales externas han desequilibrado este sistema socioambiental, que se dirige a su declive y desaparición. Nuestro objetivo general es evaluar la sustentabilidad de este sistema socioambiental mediante el enfoque de indicadores integrados en modelos dinámicos. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar este emergente enfoque y mostrar los primeros pasos de esta investigación: la construcción participativa de un modelo conceptual de nuestro sistema de estudio. Hemos identificado las principales variables e interrelaciones, y los procesos históricos que han influido en su dinámica. El modelo conceptual resultante incluye los subsistemas social y económico-productivo. La dinámica general del sistema de Comondú se encuentra en gran medida bajo el control de variables externas, climáticas como huracanes y precipitaciones, y de carácter socioeconómico, como la deslocalización sociopolítica, las ayudas gubernamentales y la intensificación agrícola exterior.

In this paper we use a case study of the Rhine River to examine the relevance of Common Pool Resource (CPR) Theory for two conditions in which it has not been extensively tested: large scale international water management and pollution problems. For that purpose, we link variation in pollution abatement to a set of explanatory variables proposed by CPR theory. Causal inference is established through process tracing and a series of within-case comparison across actor groups (i.e. riparian nations, industry, and agriculture), resource types (i.e. point source, and non-point source pollutants), and time periods (1976–1986, when treaties provided a limited basis for collective action and pollution abatement, and 1987–2001, when the Rhine Action Plan proved more successful). According to our analysis, a number of CPR variables can help understanding cooperation for pollution abatement in the Rhine case. These include physical attributes such as clear hydrological boundaries; governance factors such as the articulation of monitoring and decision-making at different governance levels and the proportional allocation of costs and benefits of abating pollution; and actor factors like the small size, trust and homogeneity of some actor groups and leadership. Other variables proposed by CPR theory proved to be irrelevant or in need of qualification. These include the right to self-organize and to participate in decision-making, communication and resource-dependence. Finally, two variables, not emphasized by CPR theory, proved relevant: the occurrence of external disturbances and the role of interest groups. We conclude that CPR theory is valuable for explaining pollution management in large trans-boundary river basins, but requires qualification and extension.