Call for Papers: Conflicts Over Water and Building Bridges with Water

Aug 18, 2014 | Monterey Institute of International Studies

Particular topics of interest for proposals include: Trans boundary Water Conflicts, Water and Politics, and Water Conservation/Management/Diplomacy/Agreements. Other topics include: Water Supply, Water Scarcity, Water Pollution, Water Access, Water and Climate Change, Water and Dams, Water and Culture, Water and Gender, Water Use & Impact (Agriculture, Industry - Fracking, Mining, Commercial & Household), and Water Privatization, Pricing and Trading.

Conflicts over Water

Water, a basic human need, a human right, is a limited resource. The eternal conflict over access to and control of water has been made more complex in recent times with climate change, privatization, damming and water exploitation for industrial and other commercial use. Poor water management, increased water pollution and unconstrained use of power for control over this resource makes conflicts over water a huge impediment to building an egalitarian, just, sustainable and peaceful society.

Water conflicts are also asymmetrical in that they impact the vulnerable sections of society – women, children and other marginalized groups – more negatively. The unpredictability of water as a resource adds to the problem, making negotiations and resolutions of water conflicts extremely challenging. After all, water gives life but it can destroy too. The paradox of water in the real world demands that conflict resolvers remain innovative, flexible and most importantly, comfortable working in grey zones.

Building Bridges with Water

So, how do water conflicts really get resolved? What innovative efforts have been made to bring warring parties in a water conflict to meet at least halfway on the bridge, if not cross the bridge entirely? Most importantly, how can we use water, often a source of conflict, as a means to resolve the conflict, that is, to build those bridges with water?

This conference aims to highlight the complexities of water conflicts and share approaches made by conflict resolvers, communities, institutions and governments in resolving these conflicts.

Guidelines & Deadlines

All proposals, of 400-500 words, together with a bio of 100-150 words, should be submitted in Word format to ccs.submissions@gmail.com. Please also include your contact details (email and telephone). Proposals must include the specific dates of when empirical research was or will be conducted. All proposals must be received by midnight (PST) on September 15, 2014. Selection of participation will be based on scholarly merit, depth of empirical research and relevance to conference topics.