This seminar will examine some of the contemporary and conceptual issues relating to transboundary water resources, such as hydropolitics, hydro-political complex theory, processes of securitisation and de-securitisation, hydro-hegemony and patterns of conflict, cooperation and governance. Considering the many international dimensions of water, the discussions will also incorporate policy, economic, environmental and legal perspectives. The course aims to provide students with theoretical tools to help analyse specific cases of water conflict and cooperation in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
Syllabus
This seminar will examine some of the contemporary and conceptual issues relating to disputes over transboundary water resources, such as hydropolitics, hydro-political complex theory, processes of securitization and de-securitization, hydro-hegemony and patterns of conflict and cooperation. Considering the many international dimensions of water, the discussions will also incorporate policy, economic, environmental and legal perspectives. Guest speakers will be invited to class during the semester to share their expertise on the topic. The course aims to provide students with theoretical tools to analyze specific cases of water conflict in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. This seminar is open in priority to Doctoral and MIS students in Political Science.
Requirements
All requirements aim to evaluate the students' ability to grasp key analytical concepts discussed in class and in the readings and to relate them to major empirical developments in water conflict and cooperation.
A) In-class participation and presentation, short written assignment: 60%
Students are expected to attend class regularly, prepare appropriately, and participate actively to class discussions. Students are required to do the readings on each topic before coming to class. (20%)
In the first part (Theory), students will choose the topic of their interest. For each session, the students who have registered for the specific day will be divided in two groups. Each group will be given by Dr. Daoudy a research question in relation to the topic and the readings of the day. Each student will be expected to provide a concise and critical evaluation of the assigned readings over 5-10 minutes maximum, with reference to his/her specific question. The floor will then be open for discussions between the presenters of the day and the rest of the seminar. All other students must have done the readings in advance and be prepared for discussions. In-class assignments will start from the 4th week onwards. On the day preceding their presentation, each student will e-mail to Dr. Daoudy a short (2 double-spaced pages) analytical review of his/her presentation. (20%)
In the second part of the seminar (International Cases of Water Conflict and Cooperation), students will be divided in two groups per session. Each group will be in charge of presenting (upstream vs. downstream) riparian positions and concerns with reference to the specific water dispute and will discuss options and alternatives with the other group on the basis of the assigned readings as well as additional research. A one page summary of core issues will be distributed in class by each group on the day the case study is discussed. One person/group will be assigned the task to present the group’s findings, while all group members will be expected to feed the in-class debate. A collective grade will be given per group. (20%)
B) Final paper: 40%
Students will select a case of their choice relating to conflict or cooperation dynamics over water. The paper should provide a history of the conflict, a critical assessment of riparian dynamics and the identification of areas of potential conflict or cooperation. This analysis should draw extensively on the theories and empirical evidence covered in the course. Students will meet with Dr. Daoudy to discuss the paper topic. A brief outline of the paper of about 250 words, with a paper title, research question, methodology, summary and a brief bibliography will be due at the beginning of class on 29 April, 2009. The final paper should consist of approximately 15 double-spaced pages (+ bibliography). It should be e-mailed to Dr. Daoudy before class on 27 May, 2009 (putting Ms. Dornschneider in copy). Except for cases of medical emergencies (with medical certificates), late papers will carry a penalty of 0.25 per day. Students will be graded on their capacity to apply theories, reflect critically on the information they have read and the discussions held in class, and use the material creatively in order to identify the direct and indirect issues at stake.
Readings
The required readings will be made available in a full package that can be ordered at Imprimerie Minute (www.imprimerie-minute.ch/iheid.htm). Two sets will be put on hold at the library for the students.
COURSE OUTLINE
Feb. 18. Brief introduction.
Feb. 25. SETTING THE STAGE: CONFLICT, SECURITY AND COOPERATION OVER WATER
Topics:
Surface water, groundwater, quantity, quality, water management practices, sanitation
Readings:
Dinar, A., Dinar, S., McCaffrey, S. & McKinney, D., Bridges Over Water: Understanding Transboundary Water Conflict, Negotiation and Cooperation, 2007, Chapter 1, pp. 1-23.
Phillips, D., Daoudy, M., McCaffrey, S., Öjendal, J. & Turton, A.R., Transboundary Water Cooperation as a Tool for Conflict Prevention and Broader Benefit-Sharing, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI), 2006, pp. 15-31; 175-177.
Conca, K. “The new Face of Water Conflict”, Navigating Peace, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, no. 3, November 2006, pp. 1-3.
March 4. RESOURCE-BASED CONFLICTS AND COOPERATION
Topics : Hydro-politics, conflict over natural resources, environmental security.
Readings:
Dinar et al., Chapters 2 & 7, pp. 24-53; 138-158.
Falkenmark, M., “Fresh Waters as a Factor in Strategic Policy and Action”, in Arthur H. Westing (ed.), Global Resources and International Conflict, Environmental Factors in Strategic Policy and Action, Oxford University Press, New York, 1986, pp. 85-113.
March 11. WATER AND SECURITY: SECURITIZATION PROCESSES
Topics :
Scarcity and violent conflict, linking water and security issues.
Readings:
Buzan, B., Waever, O., and de Wilde, J., Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Lynne Rienner, Boulder, 1998, pp. 21-47; 71-93.
Chou, S., Bezark, R. & Wilson, A., “Water Scarcity in Rivers Basins as A Security Problem”, Environmental Change and Security Project, Special Report, The Woodrow Wilson Center, no. 3, Spring 1997, Washington DC, pp. 96-105.
Gleick, P. H., “Water and Conflict: Fresh Water Resources and International Security”, International Security, vol. 18, no. 1, Summer 1993, pp. 79-112.
March. 18 NO CLASS (5th World Water Forum)
March 25. BEYOND WATER CONFLICT: HYDRO-POLITICAL SECURITY COMPLEXES, GEOGRAPHICAL CRITIQUES
Topics:
Hydro-political security complex, water regimes.
Readings:
Furlong, K. “Hidden Theories, Troubled Waters: International Relations, the ‘Territorial Trap’, and the Southern African Development Community’s Transboundary Waters”, Political Geography, 25, 2006, pp. 438-458.
Toset, H.P.W, Gleditsch, N. P., Hegre, H., “Shared Rivers and Interstate Conflict”, Political Geography, vol. 19, 2000, pp. 971-996.
Ashton, P.J. and Turton, A.R. (in press), “Water and Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emerging Concepts and their Implications for Effective Water Resource Management in the Southern African Region”, in Brauch, Grin, Mesjasz, Behera, Chourou, Spring, Liotta & Kameira-Mbote (eds.), Globalization and Environmental Challenges, Springer, pp. 1-14.
April 1. WATER AND POWER: ASYMMETRY, HYDRO-HEGEMONY THEORY, LINKAGE STRATEGIES
Zeitoun, M. and Mirumachi, N. “Transboundary Water Interaction I: Reconsidering Conflict and Cooperation”, Int. Environ. Agreements, 8, 2008, pp. 297-316.
Daoudy, M. “Hydro-Hegemony and International Water Law: Laying Claims to Water Rights,” Water Policy, 10, Supplement 2, 2008, 89-102.
Haftendorn, H., “Water and International Conflict”, Third World Quarterly, vol. 21, no.1, 2000, pp. 51-68.
PROMOTING WATER COOPERATION
April 8. WATER CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Topics:
Water as a factor of cooperation, benefit-sharing.
Readings:
Wolf, A., Kramer, A., Carius, A. and G. Dabelko, ”Water can be a Pathway to Peace, not War,“ Navigating Peace, Woodrwo Wilson International Center for Scholars, no. 1, July 2006”, pp. 1-5.
Wolf, A. & Hamner, J., “Trends in Transboundary Water Disputes and Dispute Resolution”, in M.R. Lowi, and B.R. Shaw (eds.), Environment and Security, Discourses and Practices, Macmillan, 2000, pp. 123-148.
Waterbury, J., “Between Unilateralism and Comprehensive Accords: Modest Steps toward Cooperation in International River Basins”, International Journal of Water Resources Development, vol. 13, no. 3, September 1997, pp. 279-289.
Daoudy, M., “Benefit-Sharing as a Tool of Conflict Transformation: Applying the Inter-SEDE Model to the Tigris and EuphratesBasins”, The Economics of Peace and Security Journal, vol. 2, no.2, 2007: pp. 25-32.
EASTER BREAK
April 22. DE-SECURITIZATION PROCESSES: THE ECONOMICS OF WATER
Topics:
Price policy, water markets, public-private partnerships.
Readings:
Rogers, P., De Silva, R., & Bhatia, R., “Water is an Economic Good: How to Use Prices to Promote Equity, Efficiency and Sustainability”, Water Policy, vol. 4, 2002: 1-17.
Perry, C.J., Rock, M., & Seckler, D., Water as an Economic Good: A Solution, or a Problem?, Research Report 14, International Irrigation Management Institute, Sri Lanka, 1997.
Griffin, R., Water Resources Economics, MIT Press, 2007, Chapter 7: “Water Markets”, pp. 203-241.
April 29. WATER GOVERNANCE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS
NB: Outline for the paper is due
Topics:
Water governance, International Water Law, the nature of cooperation.
Readings:
Boisson de Chazournes, Laurence, “Water Economics: Trends in Dispute Settlement Procedures and Practice”, in Brown-Weiss, Boisson de Chazournes & Bernasconi-Osterwalder (eds.), Fresh Water and International Economic Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005, pp. 333-365.
McCaffrey, S., The Law of International Watercourses: Non-Navigational Uses, OxfordUniversity Press, Oxford, 2001, pp. 301-322.
McCaffrey, S., “International Groundwater Law: Evolution and Context,” in Salman, ed., Groundwater: Legal and Policy Perspectives, World Bank Technical Paper, no. 456, 1999, pp. 139-161.
May 6. THE MEKONGRIVER BASIN
Readings:
Phillips, D., Daoudy, M., McCaffrey, S., Öjendal, J. & Turton, A.R., Transboundary Water Cooperation as a Tool for Conflict Prevention and Broader Benefit-Sharing, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI), 2006, pp. 90-121.
Chenoweth, J.L., Malano, H.M., and Bird, J.F., “Integrated River Basin Management in the Multi-jurisdictional River Basins: The Case of the MekongRiver Basin”, Water Resources Development, vol. 17, no.3, 2001, pp. 365-377.
Fox, C. and Sneddon, C., Flood Pulses, International Watercourse Law, and Common Pool Resources: A Case Study of the Mekong Lowlands, Research Paper 2005/22, EGDI, United Nations University and World Institute for Development Economics Research, 2005.
May 13. THE JORDANBASIN
Readings:
Phillips, D., Daoudy, M., Mc Caffrey, S., Öjendal, J. & Turton, A.R., Transboundary Water Cooperation as a Tool for Conflict Prevention and Broader Benefit-Sharing, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Expert Group on Development Issues (EGDI), 2006, pp. 41-63.
Lonergan, S., “Forces of Change and the Conflict over Water in the JordanRiver Basin”, in Hussein Amery & Aaron T. Wolf (eds.), Water in the Middle East: A Geography of Peace, University of Texas Press, Austin, 2000, pp. 4562.
Selby, J. “Dressing up Domination as ‘Cooperation’: The Case of Israeli-Palestinian Water Relations,” Review of International Studies, 29, 2003, pp. 121-138.
May 20. THE EUPHRATES AND TIGRISBASINS
Readings:
Daoudy, M., “Asymmetric Power: Negotiating Water in the Euphrates and Tigris,” International Negotiation, forthcoming April 2009 (will be distributed in class).
Kibaroglu, A. & Ünver, O.I.H., “An Institutional Framework for Facilitating Cooperation in the Euphrates-TigrisRiver Basin”, International Negotiation, vol. 5, no. 2, 2000, pp. 311-330.
Scheumann, W., “Conflicts on the Euphrates: An Analysis of Water and Non-Water Issues”, in Scheumann, W. & Schiffler, M., Water in the Middle East: Potential for Conflict and Prospects for Cooperation, Springer, Berlin, 1998, pp. 113-135.
May 27. THE INDUSBASIN
NB: Final paper is due.
Readings:
Pitman, G.T.K., “The Role of the World Bank in Enhancing Cooperation and Resolving Conflict on International Watercourses: The Case of the IndusBasin”, in Salman & Boisson de Chazournes (eds.), International Watercourses: Enhancing Cooperation and Managing Conflict, World Bank Technical Paper 414, 1998, pp. 155-165.
Ulam, U., Sahota, P., & Jeffrey, P., “Irrigation in the IndusBasin: A History of Unsustainability”, Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, vol. 7, no.1, 2007: 211-218.
Zawahri, N.A. “India, Pakistan and Cooperation along the IndusRiver System,” Water Policy, 11, 2009, 1-20.
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