Governing International Watercourses - Perspectives from Different Disciplines: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

International watercourses, transcending the boundaries of nation states, are of great importance for the socioeconomic development of societies but are, at the same time prone to international collective action problems calling for cooperative international solutions. This paper reviews the existing literature on the governance of international watercourses. In a first part, the origins of hydropolitics, that is, the study of conflict and cooperation in international watercourses, are introduced. The following sections then focus on the emergence as well as on the effectiveness of institutionalized mechanisms that have been established for the governance of international watercourses. In addition, an outlook on emerging and future fields of study is provided in the last chapter of the paper. It is argued that only an integrated theoretical approach that goes beyond disciplinary divides and the sole focus on case studies can provide adequate theoretical means and thus policy concepts and strategies to cope with persistent collective action problems in international river and lake basins.

Progress beyond policy making? Assessing the performance of Dutch-German cross-border cooperation in Deltarhine

“…In recent decades, a discourse has started to emerge in the scientific as well as the donor community on evaluating the performance and effectiveness of international water regimes. This discourse has been driven by the realization that the establishment of transboundary river basin organizations or the signing of international river basin treaties may be necessary yet not sufficient precursors to implementation and subsequently problem-solving and goal attainment in terms of improved water quality, flood protection and equitable water allocation (Bernauer & Kalbhenn, 2010;Schmeier, 2010). With a few notable exceptions (Dombrowsky, 2008;Gurtner-Zimmermann, 1998;Marty, 1997), there is a strong research emphasis on joint policy making and policy outputs, such as treaties, plans and databases, and less on studies of implementation and policy outcomes.…”

“…Second, excellent literature overviews show a diversity of theoretical approaches, explanatory models and different sets of explanatory factors for cross-border cooperation, identified by scholars and reflective practitioners (Bernauer, 2002;Bernauer & Kalbhenn, 2010;Schmeier, 2010;Verwijmeren & Wiering, 2007). This has led to open questioning of whether generalizations are feasible and experiences, explanations and policy advice can be transferred from one river basin to another.…”

“…International rivers constitute an important natural resource shared between neighbouring countries. Looking back in history, transboundary cooperation over international rivers has been the norm rather than an exception on a variety of issues such as flooding, pollution, navigation and water resource allocation (Bernauer, 2002;Bernauer & Kalbhenn, 2010;Le Marquand, 1977;Marty, 2001;Schmeier, 2010;Van der Zaag, 2007;Verwijmeren & Wiering, 2007;Wolf, 1998). At the same time, excellent studies and overviews of the literature of transboundary cooperation have shown the mixed performance record of international river management institutions and river basin organizations, with a substantial number of institutional arrangements being described as 'paper tigers' and dead-letter regimes (Backer, 2006;Bernauer, 2002;Soeters, 1993;Young, 2001).…”

The evolution of regional cross-border water regimes, the case of Deltarhine

“…Different theoretical frameworks and approaches are available to analyze conflict and cooperation in international river basins, such as regime theory, network and negotiation theory as well as a number of discursive and cognitive approaches (for comprehensive reviews see Bernauer, 2002;Verwijmeren and Wiering, 2007;Schmeier, 2010). In this study we make use of the conceptual richness of international regime theory, where a regime is understood as "sets of implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules and decisionmaking procedures around which actors' expectations converge in a given area of international relations" (Krasner, 1983, p. 372).…”

Federal rivers: a critical overview of water governance challenges in federal systems

“…This mismatch between political boundaries and river basins in federal countries poses special challenges for (1) systemic cost and benefit sharing and (2) conflict management between the states of the federation. The literature on international waters has identified the importance of international treaties and river basin organizations to promote cooperation and manage conflicts in shared waters (Wolf 2007, Schmeier 2010. Federal systems often confront similar challenges with conflict management and risk sharing to those arising in international waters despite having an institutional structure and legal regime to share powers.…”