Water engineering for the promotion of peace

Abstract

In a world of limited resources, limited sympathy and limited rationality, competition leading to tensions and conflict can arise. In such circumstances, a key responsibility of any society is to ensure the security of its citizens. The role of engineering in contributing to such security is most usually considered to be the development, manufacture and use of military equipment so as to ensure dominance if tensions result in violence. To make a contribution to international security is a worthy goal for individual engineers and engineering enterprises. However, contributing by preparation for war is an inadequate response, especially considering recent analyses of the origins of conflict, government strategy and international initiatives. These emphasise the importance of cooperatively resolving the underlying roots of conflict so as to promote sustainable peace. Competition for water is already a root source of violent conflict in some parts of the developing world, and a source of tension in many other...