Drought, dams, and survival: linking water to conflict and cooperation in Syria’s civil war

Abstract

In an attempt to contribute to the literature on natural resources and civil war, this paper addresses the role of water in the ongoing armed struggle in Syria. It examines the question “To what extent is water linked to conflict and cooperation in Syria’s civil war?” Based on an analysis of scholarly work and media reports, it is argued that water is closely linked to the violent conflict in Syria through its roles as a contributing cause to the 2011 uprising; a strategic tool and military target; and a means of survival for IDPs and refugees. Going beyond assessing the water-conflict nexus, the paper also shows how water could help foster transboundary cooperation and peacebuilding in the Syrian context. Although the civil war’s outcome is still uncertain, the importance of water to all facets of society might eventually help restore Syria’s political, social, and economic fabric while promoting regional stability.

Keywords:

• water
• civil war
• Syria
• transboundary cooperation
• peacebuilding

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Dr. Murray Clamen, Dr. Jan Adamowski, and Lara Sievers for their valuable comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Thanks are also expressed to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the provision of a full graduate scholarship at McGill University.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrea Beck

Andrea Beck is currently pursuing her M.Sc. in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at McGill University. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin, and an M.A. in International Peace and Security from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. During her undergraduate program, she spent 1 year as a Fulbright scholar at Hampshire College in the United States. Her main research interests include transboundary water management, international water law, and diplomacy studies. Andrea previously worked for the German Development Service (DED) in Malawi, and was a guest contributor to The Diplomatic Courier and The Diplomat global affairs magazines, where she wrote about the challenges of mediation in Syria and Chinese cultural diplomacy.