Transboundary Water Conflicts and Cooperation

Abstract

In this chapter, different types of conflicts and cooperation activities are analysed as related to water quantity, water quality, water ecosystems and socio-economic issues. Conflicts and cooperation can be developed between countries but also between regions, water districts and municipalities located in the same country. International and national water disputes and conflicts are very much related to different political factors and in some extreme cases may lead to civil wars or to armed confrontation between countries. Well known examples of potential transboundary water conflicts and cooperation achievements are, on the one hand the water conflicts between Israel and its neighbours, the water disputes in the Nile basin, the Pakistan-India issues over the Indus River and the Tigris/Euphrates rivers disputes between Turkey, Syria and Irak and, on the other hand, successful examples of cooperation exist, such as the Danube and the Rhine river basins in Europe and the Great Lakes between US and Canada.

The main objective of this chapter is twofold: first, to recognise water districts at risk of conflict, to assess and classify different causes and various types of transboundary conflicts; second, to investigate conflict prevention strategies and the ways to reverse potential conflicts into cooperation, also mentioning the paradoxical existence of cooperative situations without any political agreement. Different tools for conflict management and conflict resolution refer to the so called water diplomacy or hydro-diplomacy. This includes the international law and regulatory instruments as well as economic and institutional tools, such as the international water authorities and river basin commissions.

Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.

Mark Twain, Author