Hydro-politics in South Asia: the domestic roots of interstate river rivalry

In: Asian affairs: an American review, Band 34, Heft 1, S. 3-22

Abstract

Intrastate or domestic circumstances are as important as interstate circumstances in impeding South Asia's progress toward a more cooperative model of river resource management. Three domestic impediments to interstate river resource cooperation must be highlighted: first, the scale of national river resource problems, requirements, and development plans; second, the inefficiencies associated with irrigation use of water resources; and third, structural and systemic problems connected with the national management of water resources. This article argues that the region's failures in resource management cannot be explained away by pointing a finger at a neighbor. Although interstate cooperation is lacking, bad governance at home - no less than a neighboring state's intransigent, unreasonable, or bullying attitude - must bear a large share of the blame. (Asian Aff/GIGA)