Examines the effect that historical erosion of common water rights has had on the poor and analyzes how many wars are caused by conflicts over natural resources.

This pioneering and authoritative study considers the profound impact of the growing worldwide water stress on international peace and security, as well as possible ways to mitigate the crisis. Although water is essential to sustaining life and livelihoods, geostrategist Brahma Chellaney argues that it remains the globe's most underappreciated and undervalued resource. One sobering fact is that the retail price of bottled water is already higher than the international spot price of crude oil. But unlike oil, water has no substitute, raising the specter of water becoming the next flashpoint for conflict.Water war as a concept may not mesh with the conventional construct of warfare, especially for those who plan with tanks, combat planes, and attack submarines as weapons. Yet armies don't necessarily have to march to battle to seize or defend water resources. Water wars--in a political, diplomatic, or economic sense--are already being waged between riparian neighbors in many parts of the world, fueling cycles of bitter recrimination, exacerbating water challenges, and fostering mistrust that impedes broader regional cooperation and integration. The danger is that these water wars could escalate to armed conflict or further limit already stretched food and energy production.Writing in a direct, nontechnical, and engaging style, Brahma Chellaney draws on a wide range of research from scientific and policy fields to examine the different global linkages between water and peace. Offering a holistic picture and integrated solutions, his book promises to become the recognized authority on the most precious natural resource of this century and how we can secure humankind's water future.

Product Description: This authoritative reference work gives timely information on the global politics of water. Readers will find case studies on a variety of complex water situations, from the Okavango River that flows through Angola, Namibia and Botswana, to the Euphrates-Tigris of the Upper Persian Gulf...read more

Product Description: Water is a basic human need, and despite predictions of "water wars," shared waters have proven to be the natural resource with the greatest potential for interstate cooperation and local confidence building. Indeed, water management plays a singularly important role in rebuilding trust after conflict and in preventing a return to conflict...read more

Product Description: Water is the resource that will determine the wealth, welfare, and stability of many countries in the twenty-first century. This book offers a new approach to managing water that will overcome the conflicts that emerge when the interactions among natural, societal, and political forces are overlooked...read more

Product Description: Driving factors of global change, such as climate change, agricultural knowledge, science, and technology, are examined in this volume, in addition to their effects. Potential policy and institutional solutions are considered, as is the role of globalization.

Product Description: This authoritative reference work gives timely information on the global politics of water. Readers will find case studies on a variety of complex water situations, from the Okavango River that flows through Angola, Namibia and Botswana, to the Euphrates-Tigris of the Upper Persian Gulf...read more

The co-author of Blue Gold outlines the global response to the original work's revelations about how corporations are seizing control of the world's water supply, tracing the emergence of a grassroots movement to have water declared a basic human right that should not be subject to profits.

Product Description: Water shortages are primarily due to mismanagement of water resources. And mismanagement, especially in agriculture, is largely the fault of centralised control by government officials. Water is often underpriced, leading to wastage and poor conservation...read more

Product Description: Water is a key component of critical ecosystems, a marketable commodity, a foundation of local communities and cultures, and a powerful means of social control. It has become a source of contentious politics and social controversy on a global scale, and the management of water conflicts is one of the biggest challenges in the effort to achieve effective global environmental governance...read more

Product Description: Working from institutional theory, reviews of the literature and surveys drawn from 127 international experts, authors Saleth (economy, International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka) and Dinar (economy, The World Bank and Johns Hopkins U...read more

Product Description: Within 20 years some three of the eight billion people on earth will, if present trends continue, lack access to sufficient drinkable water. Already, a half billion do not have drinkable water, and another two billion generally lack clean water...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Examines the political and ecological consequences of the uses and misuses of water as increasing demands threaten the global supply--issues compounded by decreasing water table levels and rampant pollution. (view table of contents)

Product Description: Within 20 years some three of the eight billion people on earth will, if present trends continue, lack access to sufficient drinkable water. Already, a half billion do not have drinkable water, and another two billion generally lack clean water...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Lately our world has witnessed massive changes and reforms in various sectors in many countries, developing and developed alike. Institutional and pricing reforms in the water sector are also part of that recent trend. They are led by the recognition of a need to respond to increased scarcity and deteriorated quality...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This volume presents a series of case studies from around the world that examine the complex culture and power dimensions of water resources and management. Chapters describe highly contentious cases that span the continuum of concerns from dam construction and hydroelectric power generation to water quality and potable water systems...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This volume presents a series of case studies from around the world that examine the complex culture and power dimensions of water resources and management. Chapters describe highly contentious cases that span the continuum of concerns from dam construction and hydroelectric power generation to water quality and potable water systems...read more

Product Description: The lack of fresh water is now recognised as one of the world's main sources of conflict. Some 26 countries are already classified as water scarce, and this - as Israel, Southern California and even the Netherlands know - is not a problem confined to the South...read more