The Role of the Currently Applicable Water Treaties in Conflict Resolution

Abstract

The Middle East and South Asia are hydropolitical hotspots, where the competition for freshwater has dramatically increased and the amount of available resources decreased, due to several reasons. This paper offers an analysis about two water conflicts, in which relevant paragraphs of the international water law would only provide a temporary water conflict resolution, because present water treaties must be urgently updated to enhance hydropolitical resilience. Overexploitation of the water resources, development of the critical region’s hydroecological conditions, hydrohegemons’ unilateral decisions can be handled with an effective international water governance and waterpolitical reforms.