Water, Peace, and War

Description

This pioneering and authoritative study considers the profound impact of the growing global water crunch on international peace and security as well as possible ways to mitigate the crisis. Water is essential to sustaining life and livelihoods, yet it remains the world’s most underappreciated and undervalued resource. One sobering fact is that the retail price of bottled water is already higher than the international spot price of crude oil. But unlike oil, water has no substitute, raising the specter of water becoming the next flashpoint for conflict. Water wars—in a political, diplomatic, or economic sense—are already being waged between riparian neighbors in many parts of the world, fueling cycles of bitter recrimination and exacerbating water challenges. Writing in a direct, non-technical, and engaging style, Brahma Chellaney draws on a wide range of research from scientific and policy fields to examine the global linkages between water and peace. Offering a holistic picture and integrated solutions, his book promises to become the recognized authority on the most precious natural resource of this century and how we can secure humankind’s water future.  

Table of contents

List of Illustrations
Introduction: Our Most Precious Resource under Threat

1. The Specter of Water Wars
2. The Power of Water
3. The Future of Water
4. Changing Water Cooperation, Competition, and Conflict
5. Shaping Water for Peace and Profit

Appendices
Notes
Glossary
Index
About the Author