Freshwater Resources and Interstate Cooperation

Frederick D. Gordon

Description

Reports from the United Nations suggest that as much as forty percent of the global population could be without adequate freshwater supplies by 2015, leading some experts to predict that future wars will be fought over water rather than oil. Yet to date, most nation-states have been able to develop viable freshwater agreements to share this precious resource. Frederick D. Gordon examines how effective these accords are in sharing and redistributing water and whether they are sufficient to meet the increasing threat of water scarcity. Using an innovative ranking system, he assesses the significance of cooperation within both bilateral and multilateral accords, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Accords of 1993–1995, the Lesotho Highlands Water Treaty of 1986, and the 1994 Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube. Gordon identifies central factors and stakeholders that are necessary for mitigating the risk of conflict and presents a template for understanding how state behavior can manage and sustain regional water resources.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations

1. Introduction

2. Overview of Explanatory Theories for Interpreting Interstate Water Accords

3. A Quantitative Assessment of Interstate Water Accords, 1950–1999

4. Comparative Case Study Introduction and Case Study Number One (Low Level of Cooperation)

5. Case Study Number Two: Lesotho Highlands Water Accords (Medium Level of Cooperation)

6. The 1994 Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube (High Level of Cooperation)

7. Conclusion

Notes
References
Appendix A. Tables
Appendix B. Figures
Appendix C. Maps
Index

Sujets

• International relations

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 22 octobre 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791477342
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

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FRESHWATER RESOURCES AND INTERSTATE COOPERATION

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F RESHWATER R ESOURCES AND I NTERSTATE C OOPERATION

Strategies to Mitigate an Environmental Risk



Frederick D. Gordon

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2008 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Gordon, Frederick D., 1967– Freshwater resources and interstate cooperation : strategies to mitigate an environmental risk / Frederick D. Gordon. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9780791476352 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Water resources development—International cooperation. 2. Fresh water—Government policy—International cooperation. 3. Environmental policy—International cooperation. I. Title. HD1691.G67 2009 333.91'17—dc22 2008003459

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Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Overview of Explanatory Theories for Interpreting Interstate Water Accords 3. A Quantitative Assessment of Interstate Water Accords, 1950–1999 4. Comparative Case Study Introduction and Case Study Number One (Low Level of Cooperation) 5. Case Study Number Two: Lesotho Highlands Water Accords (Medium Level of Cooperation) 6. The 1994 Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube (High Level of Cooperation) 7. Conclusion Appendix A. Tables Appendix B. Figures Appendix C. Maps Notes References Index

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Preface

n November 2006, the United Nations made the declaration that I water was a global crisis. Fiftyfive member nations have failed to meet their waterrelated Millennium Development Goal target of halving the proportion of people without clean water and sanitation by 2015. While there is clear evidence that freshwater resources are under significant threat, limited attention has been directed at institutional mechanisms that could alleviate this crisis. This book is intended for students and scholars who have a keen interest in understanding how to safeguard the global commons. It evalu ates the global water problem by exploring one of the few water sharing mechanisms that exist, interstate water accords. Many states share fresh water with their neighboring countries through the creation of interstate water accords. Yet to what extent are these accords effective in sharing and redistributing water and is the mechanism currently in place sufficient to meet the challenges of increasing water scarcity for many nations? The theoretical platform to evaluate to this crisis is based on envi ronmental and collective action theories which offer insight to identifying the central factors which have enabled nation states to reach freshwater sharing agreements. Similarly, this book is premised upon multiple methodologies. Quantitative analysis is important because it provides a general but aggregate understanding of interstate water accord coopera tion. Geertz stated that in order to understand the bricks (institutions), one must look at the mortar (culture). Therefore, qualitative analysis is examined to complement the quantitative findings. Water by its nature cannever becircumscribed to one discipline. Therefore, analysis is extended to parallel themes in water cooperation

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PREFACE

which includes private sector participation (PSS) water safety and sanita tion (WSS) and Integrated Water Management Systems (IWMS). An underlying goal of this book is to offer a distinct template for understanding how state behavior can manage and sustain regional water resources. Whether in the end, this contributes to intergenerational equity remains a difficult proposition. However, a basic starting point is that society must safeguard and conserve natural resources today so that future generations will have the same opportunity tomorrow. Theodore Roosevelt stated: “In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” Too often societal responses pertaining to the environment have dictated the latter two responses. Hopefully, the central arguments and research findings offered will make an important contribution towards the first choice.