Water Security and Insecurity
Evaluate the extent to which transboundary water sources always
lead to conflict between different players (18/20 marks)
A transboundary water source is a stretch of water that goes across
certain boundaries, either internationally (e.g. the river Ganges in
Bangladesh and India) or politically (e.g. Colorado, USA). Players include
anyone affected by possible, such as governments, companies or local
people who may form pressure groups. A potential for conflict is
generated when there is a ‘water-pressure point’ in which there is an
increased demand for water- due to technological
improvements/population- but diminishing water supply and users with
conflicting view (e.g. China and Laos over the Mekong river).
As there is a ‘spectrum’ of water conflicts, most cases of transboundary
supplies result in countries signing water agreements with only some
resulting in real conflict. The Helsinki Rules created in 1996 was the first
main framework to help resolve problems and sort water usage but was
updated in 2004 to the Berlin Rules. Another water sharing treaty is the
Nile Basin Initiative, introduced in 1999, to replace the previous
agreements due to the growth and development of countries using the
Niles water. Although this led to smaller countries gaining, Egypt and
Sudan lost out with a decrease in water supply. These two countries both
have large militant power compared to the others, did not sign the 1999
initiative and do not receive what they think they need, thus resulting in
growing tension with a large potential for open conflict, such as a repeat
of Egypt being involved in the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011.
Since 1940, there has been only 38 conflicts out of a possible 2800 that
has led to military action. One example is the 6-day war between Israel
and its Arab neighbours over the diversion of the River Jordan- one of
their main water sources. Political relations between these countries was
Evaluate the extent to which transboundary water sources always
lead to conflict between different players (18/20 marks)
A transboundary water source is a stretch of water that goes across
certain boundaries, either internationally (e.g. the river Ganges in
Bangladesh and India) or politically (e.g. Colorado, USA). Players include
anyone affected by possible, such as governments, companies or local
people who may form pressure groups. A potential for conflict is
generated when there is a ‘water-pressure point’ in which there is an
increased demand for water- due to technological
improvements/population- but diminishing water supply and users with
conflicting view (e.g. China and Laos over the Mekong river).
As there is a ‘spectrum’ of water conflicts, most cases of transboundary
supplies result in countries signing water agreements with only some
resulting in real conflict. The Helsinki Rules created in 1996 was the first
main framework to help resolve problems and sort water usage but was
updated in 2004 to the Berlin Rules. Another water sharing treaty is the
Nile Basin Initiative, introduced in 1999, to replace the previous
agreements due to the growth and development of countries using the
Niles water. Although this led to smaller countries gaining, Egypt and
Sudan lost out with a decrease in water supply. These two countries both
have large militant power compared to the others, did not sign the 1999
initiative and do not receive what they think they need, thus resulting in
growing tension with a large potential for open conflict, such as a repeat
of Egypt being involved in the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011.
Since 1940, there has been only 38 conflicts out of a possible 2800 that
has led to military action. One example is the 6-day war between Israel
and its Arab neighbours over the diversion of the River Jordan- one of
their main water sources. Political relations between these countries was
