Abstract
This study examined ways of challenging hydro hegemony and their roles in the Eastern Nile Basin. In doing so, the study has employed a qualitative research approach and Framework of Counter Hydro Hegemony which gives due emphasis to power and hegemony in transboundary water analysis which is downplayed by the conventional analysis of the conflict-cooperation continuum. The study has used both primary and secondary sources of data in which primary data were gathered through key informant interviews. In this case, Face-to-face interviews were conducted with individuals from academic institutions, Stockholm international water institute, Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Energy and Irrigation, Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), and Electronic (e-mail) interviews were also conducted with international water experts. Secondary data also gathered form books, journal articles, archival sources, agreements, agreed minutes, speeches, reports, and other pertinent internet sources. Given the data are gathered qualitative, the study has employed qualitative data analysis is techniques in which a combination of discourse and document analysis has been used. The findings of the study show that in the contemporary hydropolitics of the Eastern Nile basin, Egypt’s hydro hegemony is being challenged via two ways: war of position through CFA and war of movement through GERD. Both of them have played crucial roles not only in challenging but also in foreshadowing the end of the inequitable transboundary water management. With regard to CFA, it has envisioned a new order. In the meantime, however, CFA has no legal value because the ratification is not yet reached the minimum required number. Rather CFA has a counter hydro hegemonic role. CFA has the role of breaking of hegemonic consent and transformative. Along to this, CFA has a role in creating counter hydro hegemonic narrative: downgrading the narrative of historical and acquired rights via narrative of equitable and reasonable utilization, securitization via desecuritization, win-lose via win-win, and you can live without Nile via we need Nile for development. With regard to GERD, it has a coercive counter hydro hegemonic role. Along this the roles of GERD includes ways of exercising rights, coercive role, counter sanctioned discourse and offering of alternative discourse, showing the imperative of cooperation, and creation of benefit sharing regime. Thus, the counter hydro hegemonic strategies in the contemporary hydropolitics of the Eastern Nile basin foreshadow an emergent new equitable regime. Nevertheless, the anticipated new regime has not been realized. Rather it has faced challenges because of the proactive and reactive hydro hegemonic tactics being employed by Egypt. Keywords : Counter Hydro Hegemony, Eastern Nile Basin, Ethiopia, Egypt, CFA, GERD DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/69-02
Highlights
The Nile River is world’s longest river which is the principal artery of life, the cradle of civilization, a bone of contention, a magnet for tourism, stimulus to expedition and exploration (Al Rasheedy and Hamdy, 2007: 26; Swain, 2011:688)
The anticipated new emergent order and playing filed is not yet realized rather it has faced several challenges due to Egypt’s proactive move against the aforesaid mechanism. This stud calls for: First there is a need of the creation of Nile epistemic community which will play a great role for the realization of the anticipated new regime
Since Egyptian has developed deep sense of entitlement to the Nile River which is reinforced by mythology and institutionalized by their constitution and bilateral agreements, the unbiased view of knowledge based expert community will play a crucial role in decolonising hegemonic mind and in building the new order on strong rock
Summary
The Nile River is world’s longest river which is the principal artery of life, the cradle of civilization, a bone of contention, a magnet for tourism, stimulus to expedition and exploration (Al Rasheedy and Hamdy, 2007: 26; Swain, 2011:688). Since antiquity Nile River basin has attracted the attention of explorers, expansionists, poets, philosophers, politicians, geographers, environmentalists, hydrologists and policy makers with competing interests (Bayeleyegn, 1998:361; Yohannes, 2008:1). No other river is so rich in history. This is the mysterious river Nile _ the longest river system in the world_ the river of romance”’ (Naden, 1973:28 as quoted in Bayeleyegn, 1998:361). Nile River is one of the complex river basin in the world because of its large size with small discharges, diverse climatic zones and divergent interest of countries belongs to the river
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