1st Edition

International Water Law and the Quest for Common Security

By Bjørn-Oliver Magsig Copyright 2015
    212 Pages
    by Routledge

    222 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    The world’s freshwater supplies are increasingly threatened by rapidly increasing demand and the impacts of global climate change, but current approaches to transboundary water management are unsustainable and may threaten future global stability and international security. The absence of law in attempts to address this issue highlights the necessity for further understanding from the legal perspective.

    1. Introduction 

    1.1. Life in the Anthropocene: The Disrespect for Planetary Boundaries 

    1.2. Water: The Gossamer Linking a Whole Web of Securities 

    1.3. The Relevance of International Law in Addressing Water Insecurity 

    1.4 Purpose, Research Question and Outline of the Book 

    2. Water Security: Conceptualising a Buzzword 

    2.1. The Changing Perception of Security 

    2.2. The Securitisation of Water 

    2.3. Water Security through a Legal Lens 

    3. International Law in the Water Security Discourse 

    3.1. The Core Elements of Water Security 

    3.2. The Current Framework of International Freshwater Regimes 

    3.3. Water Security as a Challenge to International Law 

    4. Hydrosolidarity: The Answer to State-Centrism? 

    4.1. Hydrosolidarity 

    4.2. The Role of International Law in Overcoming ‘(Hydro)Egoism’ 

    4.3. Conclusion 

    5. Regional Common Concern: The Legal Foundation for Common Water Security 

    5.1. The Changing Landscape of International Law 

    5.2. Natural Resources and the Concept of Communality in International Law 

    5.3. Regional Common Concern as the Legal Foundation of Water Security 

    5.4. How to Materialise Regional Common Concern 

    5.5. Conclusion 

    6. Water Security in Himalayan Asia 

    6.1. The Particularities of the Region 

    6.2. The Rise of Two Global Powerhouses 

    6.3. International Water Law and Himalayan Water Security 

    6.4. A Regional Legal Framework for Water Security? 

    7. Conclusion 

    7.1. The Contribution of the 4A Operational Methodology 

    7.2. Water Security and the Future of International Law 

    7.3. A Research Agenda for International Water Security

    Biography

    Bjørn-Oliver Magsig is a Lecturer in Law at University College Cork (Ireland) where he focuses on international environmental law, law of the sea and the links between natural resources, international security and equity. He teaches Public International Law, Contemporary Issues in International Law, International Environmental Law and Law of the Sea and has been appointed Programme Director of the LLM in Marine and Maritime Law. Bjørn-Oliver has lead various interdisciplinary projects revolving around the socio-legal challenges of managing transboundary natural resources, serves on the Managing Board of the European Environmental Law Forum (EELF) and is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.

    "The importance of enhancing water security at multiple levels is becoming increasingly recognised. However, few studies offer in-depth analysis of the interplay between international law and water security, particularly within a  transboundary water context. Through its fresh conceptualisation of security, its artful analytical framework, and rich case studies, this book therefore stands out as a major contribution to the water security discourse." - Alistair Rieu-Clarke, Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, UK

    "...worthwhile reading for legal scholars and water experts alike in its case for contemporary development of international water law (IWL). Of particular value is the transformation of the vague concept of ‘water security’ into a methodological tool, which operationalizes a popular term often used in water policy with little understanding of – or guidance to – its application...  While intended for legal scholars, the book is useful for readers of any discipline who welcome the intellectual exercise of grappling with the purpose of IWL and how it can be used to promote meaningful cooperation over freshwater. The book is not for the reader who wants detailed explanations of specific sources of IWL and the technical application of their legal provisions. This however is an overriding strength of the book, which remains accessible to the non-lawyer, while delving deeper intellectually than the traditional legal positivist." - Stephanie Hawkins in Water International (2016)