Evolution of Transboundary Politics in the Euphrates-Tigris River System: New Perspectives and Political Challenges

Abstract

Transboundary water politics in the Euphrates-Tigris river system have evolved with competitive power dynamics and cooperative institutional development. We analyze the evolution of transboundary water relations over four consecutive periods. The first period coincided with nation build ing in the region, when the riparian states focused on their domestic need for socioeconomic development rather than the formulation of external water policies. The second period saw the advent of competitive trans boundary water politics shaped by the initiation of uncoordinated, largescale water development projects. The third period was the most complex, given the link between transboundary water issues and nonriparian secu rity issues. In the fourth period, the role of water bureaucracies in the re orientation of water policies from hostile to cooperative became significant. Even in the midst of the very recent political crisis between Turkey and Syria, partial institutionalization of water cooperation and growing networks of water dialogue at both the governmental and non governmental levels should continue to serve as open channels for easing the tensions. KEYWORDS : transboundary water politics, Euphrates-Tigris rivers, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, conflict, cooperation, water bureaucracies. THE MAIN RIPARIAN STATES OF THE EUPHRATES -T IGRIS RIVER SYSTEM ARE Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. 1 Water disputes among them originated with moves in the 1960s by each of them toward large-scale water development projects. The initial aim of the projects was flow regulation designed to end the alter ation of flooding and droughts. But ambitions in each country quickly grew to include hydropower generation and sharp increases in the use of river water for drinking and irrigation. Unilateral and uncoordinated water devel opment projects by each party began to stress the river system’s capacity. As the demand for water exceeded supply, water authorities in each country finally began reaching out to their counterparts in the others and they devel oped rather ad hoc processes of discussion and negotiation. Unfortunately, above the level of the water bureaucrats, political rival ries stemming from conflicting national positions within the Cold War framework prevented any fruitful cooperation from taking root. Turkey’s NATO membership and Syria and Iraq’s ties to the Soviet Union did more