Geopolitical Issues and Trajectories of Water Security in South Asia

Abstract

In the current academic debate on non-traditional security, the issue of water security has come to the forefront of discussions. This is primarily due to the developing discourse on climate change as a threat multiplier linked with conflicts surrounding access, use, and the management of shared water resources. The Indian subcontinent is therefore an interesting case study where water security and inter-connected security issues have converged as both internal and external security threats. Using the case study of the Indian Subcontinent, this essay serves to enrich the debate on geopolitical challenges and the paths toward achieving water security. The essay provides a general review of the security environment, including the risks and vulnerabilities facing the Indian subcontinent and challenges to water governance arising from both internal and external security concerns, through examples of geopolitical tensions in the region. This includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, China, and Tibet (the latter which forms the Hindu Kush Himalaya region). The research leads to the conclusion that institutional structures may be able to reduce regional tensions.