
Subnational Hydropolitics
Conflict, Cooperation, and Institution-Building in Shared River Basins
Scott M. Moore(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 19. July 2018
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-19-086410-1 (ISBN)
Description
The prospect of international conflict over water has long been the subject of academic and popular concern, but subnational political conflict is considerably more common, and almost certainly imposes greater economic and environmental costs. Indeed, subnational hydropolitics are an important feature of several large countries, including the United States, India, and China. Moreover, disputes between water users in shared river basins have often persisted despite repeated attempts by central governments to resolve them through both persuasion and coercion. Yet despite the growing threat of water scarcity around the world, little research exists on subnational politics of shared water resources. This book attempts to fill the gap by explaining how and why hydropolitics play out within countries, as well as between them.
Subnational Hydropolitics re-examines the issue of water conflict by examining conflicts at the subnational rather than international level. By examining several in-depth case studies of both conflict and cooperation, Scott Moore argues that increasing subnational water conflict is driven by two inter-linked forces, identity politics, which gives subnational politicians a reason to compete over shared water resources; and political decentralization, which provides them with the tools to do so. To understand politics at the subnational level, the book blends insights from both the environmental governance and comparative politics literatures. By examining the challenges many countries face in achieving cooperation over shared water resources, the book helps to shed light on different mechanisms and processes for solving cooperation problems at the regional scale lessons relevant to tackling a wide range of transboundary environmental problems, including air pollution, urbanization, and ecosystem protection. But at its core, this book promises a definitive contribution to the growing sub-field of environmental politics, centered on understanding how different countries attempt to solve the problems inherent in governing water resources in shared river basins.
Subnational Hydropolitics re-examines the issue of water conflict by examining conflicts at the subnational rather than international level. By examining several in-depth case studies of both conflict and cooperation, Scott Moore argues that increasing subnational water conflict is driven by two inter-linked forces, identity politics, which gives subnational politicians a reason to compete over shared water resources; and political decentralization, which provides them with the tools to do so. To understand politics at the subnational level, the book blends insights from both the environmental governance and comparative politics literatures. By examining the challenges many countries face in achieving cooperation over shared water resources, the book helps to shed light on different mechanisms and processes for solving cooperation problems at the regional scale lessons relevant to tackling a wide range of transboundary environmental problems, including air pollution, urbanization, and ecosystem protection. But at its core, this book promises a definitive contribution to the growing sub-field of environmental politics, centered on understanding how different countries attempt to solve the problems inherent in governing water resources in shared river basins.
Reviews / Votes
This timely and masterful work illuminates vexing environmental and political challenges and offers pertinent solutions... Summing Up: Highly Recommended. * CHOICE * Moore proffers four case studies to demonstrate how different forms of governments are addressing intra-basin conflicts. The initial example involves the Colorado River, which has been contested since the 19th century and has an international aspect. The focus then shifts to India's Krishna River basin, where the inability of federal and state actors to forge a compromise threatens the country's political stability. Contrasting is a fascinating study of the challenges faced by China's centralized government over management of the Yellow River basin. The final exemplar involves France, which has had a water agency for each of its river basins since the 1960s and enjoys relative peace over its water. This timely and masterful work illuminates vexing environmental and political challenges and offers pertinent solutions. * Dr John Burch Jr, University of Tennessee at Martin * This is an original and insightful contribution to our understanding of the politics and financing of water. Dr. Moores research demands to be read by the broadest possible range of development practitioners and scholars. * Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia and co-author of Australia's National Water Initiative *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
12
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
593 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-086410-1 (9780190864101)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Scott M. Moore
Subnational Hydropolitics
Conflict, Cooperation, and Institution-Building in Shared River Basins
E-Book
06/2018
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€80.49
Available for download
Person
Scott Moore is a scholar and policymaker focused on environmental issues, especially water resources, climate change, and oceans. His research and commentary on these issues has appeared in Nature, Foreign Affairs, and The New York Times. His work experience includes the U.S. State Department, where he led U.S. - China cooperation on climate change and ocean conservation, and the World Bank, where he led water sector institutional reform and financing projects as a Young Professional. He holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton, and a master's and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
Author
Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center for Energy PolicySenior Fellow, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania
Content
Preface
Glossary
Introduction: Subnational Hydropolitics
Chapter 1. Deconstructing the State: Subnational Conflict and Cooperation over Water
Chapter 2. Constrained Collective Action: Decentralization, Autonomy, and Institutionalized Cooperation in Shared River Basins
Chapter 3. Dynamics of Hydropolitics: Sustaining Conflict and Catalyzing Cooperation over Water
Chapter 4. Institutional Diversity and Inter-State Hydropolitics in the United States of America
Chapter 5. Ethno-Linguistic Cleavages and Inter-State River Disputes in the Union of India
Chapter 6. Central Control, Localized Interests, and Inter-Provincial Conflict in the People's Republic of China
Chapter 7. Elites, Civil Society, and Inclusive Institution-Building in the Republic of France
Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
Glossary
Bibliography
Glossary
Introduction: Subnational Hydropolitics
Chapter 1. Deconstructing the State: Subnational Conflict and Cooperation over Water
Chapter 2. Constrained Collective Action: Decentralization, Autonomy, and Institutionalized Cooperation in Shared River Basins
Chapter 3. Dynamics of Hydropolitics: Sustaining Conflict and Catalyzing Cooperation over Water
Chapter 4. Institutional Diversity and Inter-State Hydropolitics in the United States of America
Chapter 5. Ethno-Linguistic Cleavages and Inter-State River Disputes in the Union of India
Chapter 6. Central Control, Localized Interests, and Inter-Provincial Conflict in the People's Republic of China
Chapter 7. Elites, Civil Society, and Inclusive Institution-Building in the Republic of France
Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
Glossary
Bibliography