Central Asia's raging waters the prospects of water conflict in Central Asia

Abstract

This thesis examines the prospects of conflict caused by water scarcity in Central Asia. The thesis analyzes the three most recent political eras of Central Asia, Tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union and independence, utilizing indicators of water tensions including: water quality, water quantity, the management of water for multiple uses, the political divisions and geopolitical setting, state institutions and national water ethos. Although water is not likely to be the sole cause of a major regional conflict, the resource may be a catalyst of conflict or instability in an already weak region. Almost every indicator studied in this thesis worsened during the Soviet era and has not improved with independence resulting in an insecure Central Asian water situation.