Defining Effective Transboundary Water Cooperation

This book establishes a framework for defining transboundary water cooperation and a methodology for evaluating its effectiveness, which will contribute to more effective and therefore successful cooperation processes.

"Terms as seemingly straightforward as 'cooperation' and 'effective' can actually be devilishly difficult to define, and harder to tangibly gage, especially in the world of international law and diplomacy.Melissa McCracken takes on the seemingly intractable task of operationalizing both concepts, as applied to the half the land surface of the earth that lies within river basins shared by two or more countries, and does so with aplomb. Invaluable for scholars and practitioners alike, this clear and precise volume will be helpful for anyone working in the realm of water cooperation and diplomacy, and will have useful lessons for those working in other shared resources as well."Aaron T. Wolf, Professor of Geography, Oregon State University, USA. "This book takes the next step in measuring the effectiveness of cooperation over shared water resources. By providing an approach to defining what effective cooperation actually is and to measuring where and how cooperation takes place at what level of effectiveness, it provides great guidance to both researchers and practitioners in ensuring that our shared water resources are being managed equitably and sustainably today and in an increasingly challenging future!"Susanne Schmeier, Associate Professor in Water Law and Diplomacy, IHE-Delft, Netherlands. "For those who think about and act to improve transboundary water conflicts, 'cooperation' is a most used and abused term. Through her scrutiny of the term, McCracken helps all of us to realise that water 'cooperation' between states can be as instrumental and destructive as it may be positive. Thanks to this book, we can now use the term 'cooperation' accurately, and perhaps move some water arrangements to be more equitable, more sustainable."Mark Zeitoun, Professor of Water Security and Policy, University of East Anglia, UK.

Autorentext

Melissa McCracken is an Assistant Professor of International Environmental Policy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Her research focus is on international water policy and management, cooperation and conflict over shared surface and groundwaters, and conflict transformation surrounding environmental resources. Prior to joining The Fletcher School, Melissa was a Post-Doctoral Scholar with the Program in Water Conflict Management and Transformation, as well as the Manager of the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database housed at Oregon State University.

Inhalt

1. Using a common language for transboundary waters Part 1: Why is a consistent definition to measure transboundary water cooperation needed? 2. Presenting the two challenges: Defining transboundary water cooperation and measuring its effectiveness 3. Demonstrating the challenges: SDG Indicator 6.5.2 Measuring operational arrangements for transboundary water cooperation Part II: Challenge 1: How is transboundary water cooperation defined? 4. A lack of consensus in defining transboundary water cooperation 5. Similar terms: Teasing out definitions of transboundary water cooperation 6. Framing transboundary water cooperation: A framework definition Part III: Challenge 2: What makes transboundary water cooperation effective? 7. Murky waters: Trying to define effectiveness for transboundary water cooperation 8. Unpacking effectiveness: Developing a definition of effective transboundary water cooperation 9. Evaluating effective transboundary water cooperation: A model for effectiveness ****10. A path forward for effective cooperation over transboundary waters Appendices