Theoretical Synthesis for Water, Energy, and Food (WEF) Nexus Security and Sustainability

This chapter provides comprehensive insights into the theoriesTheories underpinning the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus. The theories are the securitization theory, Malthusian theory of populationMalthusian theory of population, game theory, institutional theoryGame theory, institutional theory, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), andTechnology Acceptance Model (TAM)InnovationInnovationDiffusionDiffusionTheory (IDT)Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT). The chapter dealt with each of these theoriesTheories, generating different approaches and strategies for using these theoriesTheories for resource security and sustainability. The securitization theory generated five (5) questions for robust resource security and sustainability. Preventive checksPreventive check and resource planning were encouraged in the Malthusian Theory of PopulationMalthusian theory of population against the Malthusian CatastropheMalthusian catastropheand Malthusian CycleMalthusian cycle. In the game theory, the chapter espoused the applicability of non-cooperative and cooperative gamesCooperative game, the use of extensive gamesExtensive game, and the importance of information and interest holders within resource games for resource victory. In the Institutional Theory, the chapter recommended four (4) applicability aspects: the sectoral policySectoral policy, human resource capacity developmentHuman resource capacity development for nexus thinking, global imitationGlobal imitationand local implementationLocal implementation, and stakeholder Management. Moreover, the chapter contextualized the five (5) qualities of IDT to theWEF theories WEF nexus and recommended the conformance of innovationInnovation to social sustainability. Also, the chapter analyzed the perceived ease of use (PEU)Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) and the Perceived Usefulness (PU)Perceived Usefulness (PU) of the Technology Acceptance Model within the WEF nexus. The chapter also explained the differences between the InnovationInnovationDiffusionDiffusion Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model as they relate to theWEF theories WEF nexus, which entails focus and scope, end usersEnd users, and the context of adoptionAdoption. The chapter ended with developing a theoretical synthesis model forWEF theories WEF nexus security and sustainability. This model integrates and explains the significant insights of the six (6) theoriesTheories and how they aid resource security and sustainability.