Conformity Ratio of Hydropolitical Approaches and Governing Principles of International Rivers

The legal regime of common water resources remains the main concern of countries in the international river basin. In this regard, it seems difficult and unresolved just as before to determine the legal regime of these rivers, due to the different viewpoints of the coastal countries located in the basin of these rivers, on the extent and how to exploit these resources. In general, the approach of governments in the exploitation of these resources stems from two perspectives: a perspective accepts the problem of water scarcity and, with proper management, considers water as an important factor in regional cooperation. In contrast, the other one, given the certainty of conflict over natural resources, regards the conflict and crisis over common water resources as inevitable. Accordingly, the present article examines the governing principles of water resources exploitation of international rivers, assuming that the geographical location (upstream-downstream relations) and hydro-hegemonic position of coastal countries is effective in adopting the governing principles of international rivers. It has also dealt with the conformity ratio of these principles with the approaches and hydro-political attitudes of the countries in the basin of these rivers. The data and information required for the article have been collected through library method (books, publications and Internet). It seems that the adoption or development of governing principles of international rivers exploitation can be derived from the upstream-downstream position and the hydro-hegemonic status of the countries located at the basin of a river. While confirming the hypothesis and the effectiveness of hydropolitical approaches, the article has come to the conclusion that the principles with cooperation-oriented approaches of downstream countries or with low geopolitical weight and the principles with conflict-oriented approaches of upstream countries or with high geopolitical weight have received more attention and acceptance.