Extract

Water security is a timely and relevant theme in global geopolitics. However, it has rarely been empirically examined in cross-border regions in relation to federal human security regimes despite its significance to the study of this concept. Most studies of border regions (that is, ISARM in Latin America or WFD in Europe) examine water governance in terms such as pollution across borders, water and agriculture, water and economic development, and so on. However, there is a dearth of systemic cross-regional comparative analyses of water and human security in cross-border regions. This chapterís originality is its implementation of a comparative cross-border analysis of water security, building on research agendas which have emerged in previous related projects focusing on cross-border human security in world regions. The authors argue that in order to better understand the causes and possible solutions of current water (in)security, we should also analyse what is being discussed (included or omitted) in broader security agendas related to regional integration processes and federal relationships. This chapter presents the current state of cross-border water security in different regions and it discusses policy and institutional responses within the framework of federal relationships.