Conflictual cooperation in transboundary waters: Insights from the Euphrates–Tigris Basin
Abstract
Transboundary water systems are often characterized by the coexistence of conflict and cooperation. Drawing on critical hydropolitics, this article promotes the concept of ‘conflictual cooperation’ to capture the cyclical and fluid nature of both processes inherent in transboundary water interactions. Using the International Water Events Database (IWED), the article analyses key water events, actors, third-party engagement, and interaction types in the Euphrates–Tigris Basin from 1946 to 2020, demonstrating how conflict and cooperation coexist and coevolve over time. In doing so, it provides a holistic, data-driven approach to analysing hydropolitical tensions, with implications for transboundary water governance scholarship and policy.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Transboundary Water Resource Management
Hydropower
Displacement
Environmental Impact
Water Resources and Management
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Water International
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 741–764
- Publication date
- 26 May 2026
- Language
- EN