This study presents a unique way to utilize the existing literature to explain the success of treaties in managing hydrologic stress. Literature-derived core concepts are summarized as seven treaty mechanisms categories (specificity, uncertainty management, enforcement, communications, flexibility, integrativeness, and scale) and are hypothesized as important for shaping the institutional resiliency of a treaty. Treaty design is shown to have a relevant and important role in shaping basin management so that nations may better achieve their goals in a changing climate.

Systematic and analytical, this book, written an expert in the field of hydro-politics, develops a theory to explain solutions to property rights conflicts over shared rivers. .

Examining international water allocation policies in different parts of the world, this book suggests that they can be used as a platform to induce cooperation over larger political issues, ultimately settling conflicts. The main premise is that water can and should be used as a catalyst for peace and cooperation rather than conflict. Evidence is provided to support this claim through detailed case studies from the Middle East and the Lesotho Highlands in Africa. These international cases – including bilateral water treaties and their development and formation process and aftermath – are analyzed to draw conclusions about the outcomes as well as the processes by which these outcomes are achieved. It is demonstrated that the perception of a particular treaty as being equitable and fair is mainly shaped by the negotiation process used to reach certain outcomes, rather than being determined mechanistically by the quantitative allocation of water to each party. The processes and perceptions leading to international water conflict resolutions are emphasized as key issues in advancing cooperation and robust implementation of international water treaties. The key messages of the book are therefore relevant to the geo-political and hydro-political aspects of water resources in the context of bilateral and multilateral conflicts, and the trans-boundary management of water resources, which contributes insights to political ecology, geo-politics, and environmental policy.

Containing the proceedings of the Second International Conference on the title topic, the book examines issues related to the nature of water, and its use and exploitation by society. Since ensuring an adequate water supply is becoming a critical issue in more and more countries, the conference brings together specialists from the social sciences and humanistic disciplines and the physical and natural sciences, biology, environmental sciences, and health to bridge gaps between the disciplines in addressing the problem. The international, interdisciplinary nature of the conference participants makes it possible to arrive at equitable solutions to the many transnational issues, relating to the rights of states, which arise around water supply.The book discusses: The nature of water; Water as a human right; Water as the source of life; Water in a changing climate; Future water demands and adaptation strategies; Water resources contamination; Water resources management; Irrigation and desertification; Water, sanitation and health; Transnational water rights; Legislation and controls; Lessons to be learnt; Water and disaster management.

Bridges over Water places the study of transboundary water conflicts, negotiation, and cooperation in the context of various disciplines, such as international relations, international law, international negotiations, and economics. It demonstrates their application, using various quantitative approaches, such as river basin modeling, quantitative negotiation theory, and game theory. Case-studies of particular transboundary river basins, lakes, and aquifers are also considered.This second edition updates the literature on international water and in-depth analyses on political developments and cooperation between riparian states. With an appended chapter on principles and practices of negotiation, and a new case study on the La Plata Basin, this edition is a timely update to the field of transboundary water studies.