Year: 2018
Collections: Research Paper
Topics: Water governance, Water diplomacy, Hydropower
Authors: Denise Michèle Staubli Anoulak Kittikhoun,
Countries:
Source: Journal of Hydrology
The Mekong region, home to one of the world’s great rivers – the Mekong – is also one of the world’s most geostrategic regions, featuring seemingly conflicting interests among regional states including Viet Nam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and world powers such as China and the United States of America.
For nearly a century, some of the riparian states have developed parts of the basin in their territories – to great benefits and harm – and recently the remaining late developing countries are catching up with water and related resources development plans to dam, withdraw and use the mighty Mekong to fund national progress and alleviate poverty.
World leaders, academics, NGOs, media and even some government officials have warned that the current rush to development is not only bringing a sure death to a great previously untamed river, potentially displacing millions of people, and threatening livelihoods, but would also usher in an era of aggravated tensions and possibly even conflict. The Mekong River Commission (MRC), tasked to manage the river for the sake of the environment and the people, is failing its mission with work that has been ineffective, uninfluential and wasted, critics say.
Year: 2020
Collections:
Topics: Water, Climate, IWRM, Water diplomacy, Transboundary Water Resources, Water Security, Hydropower
Authors: Melinda Davies, Nathanial Matthews
Countries:
Source: International Journal of Water Resources Development
The article focuses on how China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may affect water resources and water governance in Central Asia. The authors consider Central Asia as a region that already faces a complex water situation, including transboundary rivers, water scarcity, the dependence of agriculture on irrigation, the environmental problems of the Aral Sea, weak coordination between countries, and the impacts of climate change. Against this background, the development of infrastructure, industry, hydropower, and agriculture under the BRI may increase pressure on water resources.
Year: 2013
Collections:
Topics: Transboundary cooperation, Hydropower, Hydropolitics Irrigation,
Authors: Shlomi Dinar
Countries:
Source: Eurasian Geography and Economics
The article focuses on the role of geography and the relative power of states in international hydropolitics. The author analyzes how a country’s position within a river basin — upstream or downstream — affects its ability to participate in water negotiations. It is often assumed that a state with greater military and economic power can dictate the terms of water allocation. However, the author shows that geographical location is also an important source of power. Even a weaker state, if it is located upstream, can influence the water regime and challenge the existing status quo.
Year: 2014
Collections: Research Paper
Topics: Water, Transboundary Water Resources, Hydropower
Authors: Sonoko Ito, Sameh El Khatib, Mikiyasu Nakayama
Countries: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Source: International Journal of Water Resources Development
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Central Asian countries struggled to reach an agreement on the use of their shared fresh water resources. The conflict between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan regarding construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant in the Amu Darya Basin seems deadlocked at present, despite copious efforts made by donor agencies. Therefore, this paper examines each country’s position using the numbers featured in the media.
Year: 2013
Collections: Research Paper
Topics: Water, Transboundary Water Resources, Transboundary cooperation, Hydropower
Authors: Sanat Kushkumbayev, Azina Kushkumbayeva
Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Source: Chinese Journal of International Law
This paper discusses the failure of past regional and sub-regional treaties to resolve these ossifying conflicts of interest, and explains that only a truly multilateral convention might allow these nations to collectively determine a way forward which satisfies all parties.
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