Hydro-diplomacy and Waterscapes: A Case Study of Ravi River
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16942862
Abstract
In the 21st century, Hydro-diplomacy is emerging as one of the most pressing issues in regards to statecraft and conflict resolution. This case is emphasized greatly in the South Asian region, where transboundary rivers form the backbone of survival and the locus of conflict. Asymmetrical power relations, territorial claims, and meta-narratives are impacting national security at every level, daily. While doing so, they overlook the failure of frameworks in incorporating the socio-political and ecological realities of shared rivers. Studying waterscapes departs from traditional state-centric paradigms that exist beyond meta-narratives, highlighting the vulnerabilities at the local level. The Ravi River, flowing across the Indian and Pakistani Punjab is an example of a shared waterscape, where both sides face similar challenges due to infrastructural projects and extreme climate change, contamination of soil, depletion of ground water, and untreated industrial effluents. The Ravi River is often overshadowed by the larger discourse centered around the Indus Water Treaty, proving that negotiation frameworks need to account for ecological sustainability and local well-being. The study argues that the India-Pakistan relationship over the issue of water is like that of cooperative antagonists. While treaties exist to formulate engagement frameworks, they are undermined by the threat of unilateral actions and securitization, such as India’s calls for withdrawal from the Indus Water Treaty, fueled by nationalist rhetoric. The methodology draws on the postmodern emphasis on local narratives, the study design is grounded in qualitative analysis of secondary sources, while ensuring the diversity of perspectives. The postmodernist framework prioritizes micro and meso level dialogue rather than the state-level meta-narratives often associated with the term ‘Hydro-diplomacy.’ The study further emphasizes recalibrating the nature of hydro-diplomacy with the lens of shared waterscapes, allowing for an epistemological evolution of the term. The potential emerges for a collaborative approach to better governance, flood control, and resource sharing. Embracing the waterscapes approach allows for a future where management and ecological development directly prevent any ‘water wars.’
Keywords: Hydro Diplomacy, Waterscapes, Ravi River, South Asia, India –Pakistan, Punjab
