Lessons Learned from the Water Conflicts Are a Warning for the Water Policy Makers in the 21st Century

Abstract

The analysis of the history of water conflicts which have inseparably accompanied the development of our civilisation indicates many interesting trends. Most countries have transboundary waters in their territory, which gave rise to various conflicts at a smaller or greater scale in the past. Observations and analyses of examples from Middle East, Africa or Southeast and Central Asia should lead to conclusions and activities to prevent water conflicts which may occur practically everywhere in the world. This is particularly important at the time of a dramatic population growth, the extreme natural phenomena and climatic variability. Different scenarios indicate that water resources will be one of the most desired raw materials in the twenty-first century, which can give rise to intensifying conflicts in the areas of transboundary waters.

At the time of shrinking unpolluted surface water resources, groundwater can also be the cause of conflicts. Therefore, the prevention of water conflicts should be a strategic and priority direction of actions by states which share transboundary waters, while the lessons learned from the water conflicts known to date should contribute to the building of a compromise and rational water management between the neighbouring countries.