Water security and interstate conflict and cooperation*
Wagner Costa Ribeiro
São Paulo University. Department of Geography. Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and
Literature, and Human Sciences
wribeiro@usp.br
Fernanda Mello Sant’Anna
São Paulo State University. Department of International Relations. Faculty of Social and
Human Sciences
fermsa@yahoo.com.br
Received: January 2014
Accepted: April 2014
Abstract
Tensions and conflicts over water use are increasingly common, as a result of both high water scarcity and high water demand. The use of water resources generates political disputes between countries sharing waters within their borders. This paper aims to discuss water security and the interstate conflict and cooperation that can result from it. It isbased on an interdisciplinary literature review that aims to contribute to the development of studies on transboundary water policies, encompassing concepts such as water security,
water justice and water governance. This article aims to grasp the problems involved in the conflicts and cooperation on shared use of transboundary water resources. It is divided in the following parts: water and international politics; international security, environmental security and water security; and interstate water conflicts and cooperation in the use of
shared water resources. Cooperation in the use of transboundary waters might spare distributive conflicts on water use. In situations of scarcity, policies should prioritize human and animal watering, which might relieve water supply issues between riparian countries. On the other hand, water abundance may end up creating more tensions than water shortages, since disputes over its use might emerge instead of cooperation favoring interstate security.
Keywords: water; water security; interstate conflict; international cooperation; transboundary water.
to read the full article, please click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Water_security_and_interstate_conflict_a.pdf
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Water security and interstate conflict and cooperation*
Wagner Costa Ribeiro
São Paulo University. Department of Geography. Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and
Literature, and Human Sciences
wribeiro@usp.br
Fernanda Mello Sant’Anna
São Paulo State University. Department of International Relations. Faculty of Social and
Human Sciences
fermsa@yahoo.com.br
Received: January 2014
Accepted: April 2014
Abstract
Tensions and conflicts over water use are increasingly common, as a result of both high water scarcity and high water demand. The use of water resources generates political disputes between countries sharing waters within their borders. This paper aims to discuss water security and the interstate conflict and cooperation that can result from it. It isbased on an interdisciplinary literature review that aims to contribute to the development of studies on transboundary water policies, encompassing concepts such as water security,
water justice and water governance. This article aims to grasp the problems involved in the conflicts and cooperation on shared use of transboundary water resources. It is divided in the following parts: water and international politics; international security, environmental security and water security; and interstate water conflicts and cooperation in the use of
shared water resources. Cooperation in the use of transboundary waters might spare distributive conflicts on water use. In situations of scarcity, policies should prioritize human and animal watering, which might relieve water supply issues between riparian countries. On the other hand, water abundance may end up creating more tensions than water shortages, since disputes over its use might emerge instead of cooperation favoring interstate security.
Keywords: water; water security; interstate conflict; international cooperation; transboundary water.
to read the full article, please click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Water_security_and_interstate_conflict_a.pdf
^
