0
Ah, hydropolitics is like a happy little stream flowing through the landscape of political science. It's all about how water resources can influence relationships between countries or regions. Just like how we blend colors on our canvas, hydropolitics explores how countries can work together to manage and share water in a peaceful and sustainable way.
What else can I help you with?
Which river in Southwest Asia and North Africa plays a significant role in the hydropolitics of the Middle East peace process?
Jordan
What river will play a sighnificant role in the hydropolitics of the middle east peace process?
The River Nile, The Tigris-Euphrates river basin, and the River Jordan all play roles in the hydro-politics of the Middle East. Water politics play an important role in the desert region.
What has the author Aaron T Wolf written?
Aaron T. Wolf has written: 'Hydropolitics along the Jordan River' -- subject(s): Jewish-Arab relations, Political aspects, Political aspects of Water resources development, Political aspects of Water-supply, Water resources development, Water-supply 'A purity of arms' -- subject(s): American Jews, Armed Forces, Biography, Jews, American, Military life 'Middle East conflicts and directions for resolutions'
What places have a water shortage?
Parched placesOne glance at the map tells you that water is shortest in equatorial countries, often where populations are rising. (Population data below from Population Reference Bureau).China, with 1.26 billion people, is "the one area worrying most people most of the time," says Marq de Villiers, author of the recently published "Water " (see bibliography). In dry Northern China, he says, "the water table is dropping one meter per year due to overpumping, and the Chinese admit that 300 cities are running short. They are diverting water from agriculture and farmers are going out of business." Some Chinese rivers are so polluted with heavy metals that they can't be used for irrigation, he adds."They're disgraceful, unusable, industrial sewers," says de Villiers. As farmers go out of business, China will have to import more food.In India, home to 1.002 billion people, key aquifers are being overpumped, and the soil is growing saltier through contamination with irrigation water. Irrigation was a key to increasing food production in India during the green revolution, and as the population surges toward a projected 1.363 billion in 2025, its crops will continue to depend on clean water and clean soil.Israel (population 6.2 million), invented many water-conserving technologies, but water withdrawals still exceed resupply. Overpumping of aquifers along the coast is allowing seawater to pollute drinking water. Like neighboring Jordan, Israel is largely dependent on the Jordan River for fresh water.Water FightEgypt, whose population of 68 million may reach 97 million by 2025, gets essentially no rainfall. All agriculture is irrigated by seasonal floods from the Nile River, and from water stored behind the Aswan High Dam. Any interference with water flow by Sudan or Ethiopia could starve Egypt."The Nile is one I worry about," says Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project. Egypt, she says, is militarily powerful but vulnerable. "The hydropolitics might favor some military action, because Egypt is so heavily dependent on the Nile, it's already virtually tapping out the supply, and Ethiopia is now getting interested in developing the headwaters."When a World Bank official suggested several years ago that water wars are not far off, he might have had Egypt on his mind -- or Turkey, Syria and Iraq, another trio of Middle-Eastern states that are locked in an uncomfortable embrace over water.The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers both rise in Turkey and flow unimpeded to Syria and Iraq, where they provide the bulk of irrigation water needed in the arid climate. Turkey has proposed a series of dams that would reduce river flow. That causes alarm downstream.
