Boundaries and Transboundary Water Conflicts

Abstract

This paper examines political boundaries to determine if changing the boundary function or placement will lessen conflicts. A political geography approach provides the framework for analysis. Although water managers advocate using watershed boundaries for planning, changing boundary locations to accommodate water management is unlikely to occur except at the finest scale. Therefore, transboundary water conflicts are an inevitable part of water management. The key to reducing conflicts is to change the boundary functions. Boundaries can be a unifying influence or a barrier depending on their degree of permeability. A country’s internal and external boundaries have different functions and degrees of permeability. In some instances international boundaries can be completely impermeable. Three formal legal methods can be used to reduce conflicts and overcome boundary impermeability. These methods are evaluated to see which one provides the best water management solution. The best solution is an administrative unit that ignores existing political boundaries. Creating effective administrative units such as this requires political will and compromise.