10.1 Water Quantity Management and Water Allocation
121
of hydropolitics, notably, that allocation mechanisms are the institutional cornerstones of hydropeace. In fact, it has been found that water allocation per se is no
panacea. There are several transboundary basins (even larger regions) that display a
high degree of hydropolitical stability despite the absence of allocation mechanisms
in their governance arrangements. This—conclude the authors—flows from an endogeneity issue: in basins where no hard allocation problems are likely to arise riparian
states tend not to negotiate and institutionalise water sharing mechanisms. Equally,
certain allocation mechanisms do more harm than good to hydropolitical stability.
As mentioned, rigid and inflexible water sharing arrangements that ignore actual or
future hydrological variations are more likely to raise co-riparian tensions than to
alleviate them. In a similar fashion, ambiguity and vagueness in water allocation
may negatively affect hydropolitical relations among states. In conclusion, the mere
presence of an allocation mechanism does not necessarily increase resilience. On the
other hand, allocation mechanisms that are both flexible and specific tend to increase
the likelihood of cooperative behaviour among riparian states (Dinar et al. 2014).
In summary, sufficiently precise and flexible allocation arrangements contribute
positively to hydropolitical stability. Too rigid or too vague water sharing mechanisms may actually exacerbate political tensions, depending on the gravity of the
underlying allocation problem. The absence of allocation mechanisms only bodes
for hydropolitical vulnerability, if there is an acute competition over the use of shared
water resources or such competition is likely to arise in the future in view of changing
hydrological conditions.
10.1.2 Water Allocation Mechanisms in International Water
Law
Historically, water allocation has been a dominant feature of international water
treaties. Water sharing schemes have been the primary focus of almost 40% of all
transboundary water agreements concluded during the 20th century, only to be surpassed slightly by hydroelectricity (Rieu-Clarke et al. 2012). Allocation schemes
feature equally high in contemporary water treaties. On the basis of the detailed
comparative analysis of basin-specific international agreements concluded between
1980 and 2002 Dreischova et al. found that 60% of such agreements included one
of the three allocation mechanism referred to above, while 26% included one or
more direct allocation mechanisms. Indirect allocation is included in about half of
the treaties, often complimenting a direct mechanism. Principles of allocation are
rarely employed independently (Drieschova et al. 2008).
Yet, the most authentic codification of contemporary international water law,
the UN Watercourses Convention,
1 does not define water allocation mechanisms,
it merely lays down the principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation that is
1 Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, New York, 21
May 1997.
121
of hydropolitics, notably, that allocation mechanisms are the institutional cornerstones of hydropeace. In fact, it has been found that water allocation per se is no
panacea. There are several transboundary basins (even larger regions) that display a
high degree of hydropolitical stability despite the absence of allocation mechanisms
in their governance arrangements. This—conclude the authors—flows from an endogeneity issue: in basins where no hard allocation problems are likely to arise riparian
states tend not to negotiate and institutionalise water sharing mechanisms. Equally,
certain allocation mechanisms do more harm than good to hydropolitical stability.
As mentioned, rigid and inflexible water sharing arrangements that ignore actual or
future hydrological variations are more likely to raise co-riparian tensions than to
alleviate them. In a similar fashion, ambiguity and vagueness in water allocation
may negatively affect hydropolitical relations among states. In conclusion, the mere
presence of an allocation mechanism does not necessarily increase resilience. On the
other hand, allocation mechanisms that are both flexible and specific tend to increase
the likelihood of cooperative behaviour among riparian states (Dinar et al. 2014).
In summary, sufficiently precise and flexible allocation arrangements contribute
positively to hydropolitical stability. Too rigid or too vague water sharing mechanisms may actually exacerbate political tensions, depending on the gravity of the
underlying allocation problem. The absence of allocation mechanisms only bodes
for hydropolitical vulnerability, if there is an acute competition over the use of shared
water resources or such competition is likely to arise in the future in view of changing
hydrological conditions.
10.1.2 Water Allocation Mechanisms in International Water
Law
Historically, water allocation has been a dominant feature of international water
treaties. Water sharing schemes have been the primary focus of almost 40% of all
transboundary water agreements concluded during the 20th century, only to be surpassed slightly by hydroelectricity (Rieu-Clarke et al. 2012). Allocation schemes
feature equally high in contemporary water treaties. On the basis of the detailed
comparative analysis of basin-specific international agreements concluded between
1980 and 2002 Dreischova et al. found that 60% of such agreements included one
of the three allocation mechanism referred to above, while 26% included one or
more direct allocation mechanisms. Indirect allocation is included in about half of
the treaties, often complimenting a direct mechanism. Principles of allocation are
rarely employed independently (Drieschova et al. 2008).
Yet, the most authentic codification of contemporary international water law,
the UN Watercourses Convention,
1 does not define water allocation mechanisms,
it merely lays down the principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation that is
1 Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses, New York, 21
May 1997.