The Role of Power in Water Diplomacy

Water as a natural common resource is shared among different stakeholders (local, sub-national, national and international) and is vital for the human, which ignores political, economic and cultural boundaries. The direct link between water security, human security and the national security of the states on the one hand, and the existence of numerous international transboundary river basins and aquifers throughout the world on the other, has led water systems to a political and security issue in the world. It has shaped the complex "water, politics and security" nexus. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nexus of water and politics with a focus on the issue of power. Since power is one of the most significant elements in policy making and its implementation; hence, the definition of power differs in different time and spatial conditions. Accordingly, understanding of the nature and dimensions of power and hegemony (as one of its derivatives) is so significant. Power plays a crucial role in water interactions as coupled complex human-natural systems. Generally, argued by Warner (2004), up-streamers use water to get more power and down-streamers use power to get more water. Considering the role and serious impact of power in hydropolitics in general and water diplomacy in particular, this paper critically examines the nature and role of power and hegemony in relations among international riparian countries.