THE POLITICAL ROLE OF WATER IN CENTRAL ASIA: THE CASE OF THE AMUDARYA AND SYRDARYA RIVERS
Abstract
This research paper examines the up-to-date geopolitical zone of Central Asia, the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers are the vital resources that ensure the region’s peace, political and economic survival. The disintegration of the Soviet Union demolished the old water management system and it led to conflicts between upstream countries that focused on producing electricity and downstream countries that focused on agriculture. While water management remains firsthand source of regional strain due to diverging national interests, the intensifying climate crisis and the rise of new geopolitical challenges, such as Afghanistan’s Qoshtepa Canal project are now the crucial determinants forcing upstream and downstream countries to abandon water resource sovereignty approach. The creation of unified regional system is the only viable approach to guarantee long-lasting term of peace and economic stability in Central Asia.