Hydropolitcs, Security and International Law

This project explores whether Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) can
contribute to political and economic stability in the Middle East? There are three focus
areas within the project. First, IWRM is a starting point for deeper research questions
within the socioeconomic and political situation in the Middle East. An urgent
research question is to study how local participation in the IWRM process can fulfi ll
regional and national water management strategies. There are many examples of successful traditional local management of water resources in the Middle East. A second area of research is to study relationships between local and invisible (virtual water) ways to save water in the Jordan River. Experience has shown that many water conflicts do not occur due to the fact that local water problems are solved by non-political trade through embedded virtual water. A third area of research is to specifi cally target the hindrance of successful implementation of water management projects due to social, cultural, and political processes.