Transboundary water problems in the context of environmental security (The Nile Basin case)

Since the 1960s, there has been a considerable concern in academia and internationally regarding the environmental problems and its impact on security. These concerns have led to the establishment of security links with the environment. New threats that emerged in the post-Cold War period led to different security approaches. The concept of environmental security is one of the approaches that emerged in the new security concept. Water resources are an important natural resource for environmental security, socio-economic development and human well-being. However, conflicts arise in regions where water resources are limited. The most common areas of this situation are transboundary water resources. This thesis aims to examine the relationship between water resources and conflict in the context of environmental security approach. The study consists of three section. In the first section, the concept of environmental security is analyzed theoretically and the relationship between environmental problems and conflict is examined. In the second section, the relationship between transboundary water resources and conflict is examined. In the last section, the possibility of a conflict between the riparian states of the Nile Basin is analyzed, where water allocation and degradation issues are the elements or causes of this conflict. The qualitative analysis method was used in the study, but quantitative data were also included where necessary. As a result, the deterioration of the quality and decrease in the amount of water resources affect the social, economic and political structures of the Nile basin countries and increase the conflict.