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Iran'S Model Of Water Diplomacy To Promote Cooperation And Prevent Conflict Over Transboundary Rivers In Southwest Asia

Author

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  • Yasaman Yeganeh
  • Ehsan Bakhshandeh

Abstract

Many countries of the world are suffering from the adverse consequences of water scarcity. The United Nations has estimated that, by the middle of the present century, about 7 billion people in 48 countries, mostly from Southwest Asia, will encounter water scarcity. This may be expedited by the adverse consequences of climate change and global warming which would escalate the risk of war and conflict over transboundary resources. The present research explores the ways water diplomacy can mitigate the dire effects of water scarcity and promote “treaty making” and “institution building” as well as multilateral cooperation on shared waters. The focus is on Iran's water diplomacy with neighboring countries over transboundary resources to forge cooperation and hamper conflict. Our findings suggest that Iran's water diplomacy is constructed on principles of “goodwill and cooperation,” “non‐significant harm,” “environmental protection,” and “exchange of data and information” on shared water resources with its neighboring riparian states. Such a model, which has resulted in no dispute between Iran and some of its neighbors such as Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Armenia in recent years, demonstrates the broader benefits of Iran's approach to water diplomacy and paves the way for stronger cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. Additionally, it encourages multilateral engagement and “hydrosolidarity” within the framework of agreements and the formation of joint “water commissions” for the equitable and reasonable distribution of water among riparian states in line with the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention. Muchos países del mundo están sufriendo las consecuencias adversas de la escasez de agua. Las Naciones Unidas han estimado que, a mediados del presente siglo, alrededor de siete mil millones de personas en 48 países, en su mayoría del sureste de Asia, enfrentarán escasez de agua. Esto puede verse acelerado por las consecuencias adversas del cambio climático y el calentamiento global que aumentarían el riesgo de guerra y conflicto por los recursos transfronterizos. La presente investigación explora las formas en que la diplomacia del agua puede mitigar los efectos nefastos de la escasez de agua y promover la “realización de tratados” y la “construcción de instituciones,” así como la cooperación multilateral en aguas compartidas. La atención se centra en la diplomacia del agua de Irán con los países vecinos sobre los recursos transfronterizos para forjar la cooperación y obstaculizar el conflicto. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que la diplomacia del agua de Irán se basa en principios de “buena voluntad y cooperación,” “daño no significativo,” “protección Ambiental,” e “intercambio de datos e información” sobre recursos hídricos compartidos con sus estados ribereños vecinos. Tal modelo, que no ha dado lugar a disputas entre Irán y algunos de sus vecinos como Pakistán, Turkmenistán, y Armenia en los últimos años, demuestra los beneficios más amplios del enfoque de Irán en la diplomacia del agua y allana el camino para una cooperación más sólida en otras áreas de interes mutuo. Además, alienta el compromiso multilateral y la “hidrosolidaridad” en el marco de acuerdos y la formación de “comisiones de agua” conjuntas para la distribución equitativa y razonable del agua entre los estados ribereños en línea con la Convención de Cursos de Agua de la ONU de 1997. 许多国家正遭受水资源短缺的负面结果。据联合国预测,21世纪中叶将有48个国家(大多数来自西南亚)的近70亿人口面临水危机。这可能因气候变化和全球变暖的消极影响而提前到来,后者可能加剧跨边界资源战争和冲突的风险。本研究探究了水外交能从哪些方式缓解水资源短缺的严重影响并推动有关跨边界水资源的“条约制定”、“制度建立”以及多边合作。重点聚焦于伊朗为促进合作和预防冲突而与邻国就跨边界资源展开的水外交。我们的研究发现暗示,伊朗就与邻近河岸国家共享水资源一事展开的水外交基于一系列原则,包括“友好与合作”、“不显著危害”、“环境保护”和“数据信息互换”。这一模式使得近年来伊朗和部分邻国(例如巴基斯坦、土库曼斯坦、亚美尼亚)之间未出现争端,证明了伊朗水外交措施的广泛益处并为增强其他互惠领域合作一事打下基础。此外,水外交鼓励在协议框架内进行多边参与和“水团结”,以及组建共同的“水资源委员会”,以期按照1997年《国际水道非航行使用法公约》公平合理地分配河岸国家的水资源。

Suggested Citation

  • Yasaman Yeganeh & Ehsan Bakhshandeh, 2022. "Iran'S Model Of Water Diplomacy To Promote Cooperation And Prevent Conflict Over Transboundary Rivers In Southwest Asia," World Affairs, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 185(2), pages 331-358, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:woraff:v:185:y:2022:i:2:p:331-358
    DOI: 10.1177/00438200221081210
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