HYDRO-HEGEMONY:
Towards a Radical View of
Transboundary Hydropolitics
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony
12 and 13 May 2007
Mark Zeitoun, P.Eng, Ph.D
London School of Economics and
Political Science
Centre for Environmental Policy
and Governance
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
[email protected]
Do not cite without author’s permission.
“without a good water conflict theory, we
are doomed to myopia - no matter how
insightful the occasional analysis”
(Frey and Naff, 1985).
(incomplete) list of hydropolitical theory
Frey and Naff Power/Interests/Position Matrix (1985)
Lowi
Theory of Hegemonic Cooperation (1993)
Homer-Dixon + Environmental Determinism (1996, 1999)
Allan
Virtual water (2001)
Gleick
Water as a means / tool / target of conflict (2001+)
Wolf +
Water Conflict Prevention, Water Dispute Database
Turton +
Hydropolitical Complex Theory / Securitisation (2002)
Allouche
Hydro-Nationalism (2005)
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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restricted sovereignty
value of water
ideology
benefit-sharing
virtual water
transboundary regimes
river-basin
riparian position
catchment area
Water Law
politics
POWER
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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How Important is…
Riparian Position?
Catchment Area?
Law or Treaties?
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
POWER
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FRAMEWORK OF HYDRO-HEGEMONY
three features added to the mix:
A. Conceptualising influence of Power
¾ Power determines the outcome of interaction, its intensity,
its nature, and perceptions of it
¾ Power allows water conflicts linger unresolved
¾ Power allows water ‘cooperation’ to remain compromised
B. Hegemony
¾ Control can be ‘hidden’, is most effective when consensual
¾C. Transboundary Settings
¾ Conflict and Cooperation
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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A. Conceptualising
Power
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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Features of Power
I am talking of millions of men who have been
skilfully injected with fear, inferiority
complexes, trepidation, servility, abasement…
Aimé Césaire
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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Potential Forms and Nature of Interactions over
transboundary waters :
Methods of CONTROL:
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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B. Hegemony
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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Egalitarianism
control is shared, some form of mutuality exists
Empire
Power maintained through force/coercion (imperialism)
Hegemony
power maintained between formal equals through
force + consent
(hard + ‘soft’ power)
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
(Type IV ideological hegemony)
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C. Transboundary Settings
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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C. Transboundary Settings
C1. Intensity of Conflict
The absence of war does not mean
the absence of conflict
(building on Yoffe et. al.)
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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C. Transboundary Settings
C2. Quality of Cooperation
‘Existence of Cooperation does mean
the absence of conflict’
(Wolf Æ Conca Æ Gleditsch Æ Kistin, Mirumachi +)
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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Examples of Objectives Related to Transboundary Flows
Resource
Water-related
Objective
Declared by
(non-hegemons)
(Warner)
(but)
Decided by
(hydro hegemons)
Ganges River
Flood control
Bangladesh
India
Ganges River
Hydro-power
Nepal
India
Nile River
Water for
Development
Ethiopia
Egypt
Mekong River
Maintenance of
flood surges
Cambodia
China
J. River &
Transboundary
Aquifers
Irrigation and
Consumption
Palestine
Israel
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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FORMS OF HYDRO-HEGEMONY
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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Summing-up
(contributions of the London Water
Research Group)
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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¾ Hegemony serves to veil
¾POWER has influence over:
¾Outcome of interaction
¾Our analysis
¾Perception
¾ Conflict and Cooperation exist simultaneously
(but extent of each is determined by hegemon)
¾Cooperation must be qualified
(existence of a treaty does not mean absence of
conflict)
¾Hegemony can be resisted
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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GOALS OF THIS WORKSHOP
1. Deepen the Framework of Hydro-Hegemony
2. Open-up on the ‘cooperation’ side
¾ Does the elephant always get its way?
¾ How can power be challenged?
¾ What are the options for ‘weaker’ players?
¾ How do we move towards effective cooperation?
3. Practical Implications??
Third International Workshop on
Hydro-Hegemony, LSE, May 2007
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Thank-you.