Explaining and Analysis of the Hydro-politic Disputes in Central Asia Region

The borders of many countries of the world are in the shape of waterways and rivers and unlike the land borders river water borders due to their complexity are creating more tension and crisis among the states. Many observers call the twenty first century as the hydro-politic era. It is due to the fact that shortage of water resources will lead to numerous conflicts and war among different countries. The climate change, occurrence of long period of drought, expansion of development plan in agriculture and industry in border areas, the increase in urban population are among the most important factors leading to intensification of disputes on border rivers. In Central Asia region, the flow of two important rivers of Amu Darya and Syrdarya along with their sub-branches have created several problems and challenges among the five countries region. In fact after the disintegration of Soviet Union the countries of Central Asia region inherited the wrong management regime of the water resources. The present article with a descriptive-analytical method wants to study the hydro-politic disputes of the countries of Amu Darya and Syr Darya basin and attempt to analyze the most important grounds and causes of the intensification of the conflict on common rivers. The finding of the study shows the divergent interest of the countries located on upstream and downstream and improper management of the problem, construction of several dams, climate changes, intervention of the regional and extra-regional powers, are among the important causes of differences on common water resources.