| News Details |
Hydrocracy: Water as a Geopolitical Weapon
2026-04-04
Assistant Instructor Solaf Taha Dawood
Upper Euphrates Center for Sustainable Development Research – University of Anbar
Introduction:
The concept of "hydrocracy" is closely linked to the theory of "geopolitical realism" in international relations, which posits that states constantly strive to enhance their security and power. Within this framework, control over land or oil resources is no longer the sole driver of conflict; rather, control over water, an indispensable resource for life, agriculture, and industry, has become an effective tool for political and economic pressure. Hydrocracy is defined as "rule or power exercised through control of water."
Foundations and Tools of Hydrocracy:
Hydrocracy relies on several key tools that enable the upstream state (the state through which the river originates or flows) to exert influence over downstream states (countries along the river). These tools include:
- Dam Construction and Diversion Projects: Constructing massive dams to store water or divert river courses gives the upstream state the ability to control the quantity and timing of water flow to neighboring countries.
- Pollution and Depletion: Polluting shared water sources (such as Transboundary Rivers) through the discharge of industrial and agricultural pollutants, or over-extracting transboundary groundwater.
- Using Water as a Political Tool: Using water as leverage in negotiations to exert pressure and achieve political, economic, or territorial gains.
Practical Examples of Hydrocracy:
- The Nile River: A Model of Hydrocratic Tension and Negotiation
Context: Egypt and Sudan are almost entirely dependent on the Nile River, while the upstream countries are located in the Ethiopian Highlands, Uganda, and elsewhere.
Example: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) represents the most recent and clearest example of hydrocracy. By constructing this giant dam on the Blue Nile, Ethiopia gains significant strategic leverage, controlling Egypt and Sudan's access to their historical water share. This project has led to years of negotiations and tension, as Ethiopia attempts to translate its water control into economic gains (electricity generation for export) and regional political influence, while Egypt seeks to safeguard its threatened water security.
- The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: A Historical Struggle for Hegemony
Context: The Tigris and Euphrates rivers originate in the Turkish highlands and flow through Syria before emptying into Iraq.
Example: Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) represents a classic example of hydro-diplomacy. By constructing 22 dams and hydroelectric power plants on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Turkey exerts significant control over the water flow into Syria and Iraq. Turkey has openly used this leverage during periods of political tension, threatening to cut off or reduce water flow to achieve political objectives, thus making the water security of Iraq and Syria largely dependent on Turkish will.
- The Jordan River and the Palestinian Aquifer: Hydrocracy in Conflict
Context: The Arab-Israeli conflict is one of the most striking examples of the use of water as a tool of control.
Example: Since its occupation of the West Bank and the Golan Heights, Israel has controlled the majority of the region’s water resources. It controls the waters of the Jordan River and denies Palestinians their right to it, and it imposes strict restrictions on Palestinian well drilling in the West Bank, while allowing Israeli settlements to deplete the aquifer from the same basin. This unequal control is a practical manifestation of hydrocracy, where water is used to solidify the political and demographic status reality.
Challenges and Criticisms:
The concept of hydrocracy raises significant ethical and legal criticisms and challenges, as it conflicts with the principles of international law, which stipulate the equitable and reasonable use of international waters and the avoidance of harm to other states. Furthermore, reliance on hydrocracy exacerbates regional instability and fuels conflict rather than cooperation.
Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), the normative framework for addressing hydrocracy—"ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all"—represents a paradigm shift in international water governance. It transcends the logic of hydrocratic hegemony, which exploits water scarcity as a geopolitical tool, and establishes a model based on equity, sustainability, and transboundary cooperation. SDG 6 comprises eight targets covering the integrated hydrological cycle, most notably: equitable access to safe drinking water, improved water quality through pollution treatment, and integrated water resources management, including transboundary cooperation.
REFERENCES:
Allan, J. A. (2001). The Middle East Water Question: Hydropolitics and the Global Economy. I.B. Tauris.
Elhance, A. P. (1999). Hydropolitics in the 3rd World: Conflict and Cooperation in International River Basins. United States Institute of Peace Press.
Gleick, P. H. (1993). "Water and Conflict: Fresh Water Resources and International Security." International Security, 18(1), 79–112.
Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database (TFDD). Oregon State University.
Wolf, A.T.(1998)."Conflict and Cooperation along International Waterways." Water Policy, 1(2), 251–265.
Zawahri, N. A. (2009). "Syria and Turkey in Water Diplomacy." Middle East Policy, 16(1), 134-150.
7. UN-Water. (2021). Summary Progress Update 2021: SDG 6.
8· Ünver, O. (2024). "An anatomy of SDG 6". In Sustainable Development and Water Security. Cambridge University Press.
#Upper_Euphrates_Center_for_Sustainable_Development_Research
