Keywords
Water geopolitics, transboundary rivers, resource geography, hydro-politics, water conflict, political pressure, Central Asia
How to Cite
WATER AS THE GEOPOLITICAL WEAPON OF THE 21ST CENTURY: RESOURCE GEOGRAPHY AND POLITICAL PRESSURES. (2025). MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL, 1(6), 370-372. https://universalpublishings.com/index.php/fundamental/article/view/13106
Abstract
In the 21st century, water is no longer just a life-sustaining natural resource—it has become a strategic geopolitical tool. This article explores how freshwater scarcity and uneven geographical distribution of water resources have contributed to rising tensions, political leverage, and potential conflict. Focusing on critical transboundary river basins such as the Nile, Tigris–Euphrates, and Amu Darya–Syr Darya, the study investigates how states use water as a means of political pressure and control. The research concludes that sustainable water governance and regional cooperation are crucial to preventing water-related conflicts.References
1. FAO AQUASTAT. (2023). Global Water Resources Database.
2. Gleick, P. H. (2020). Water and Conflict: Fresh Water Resources and International Security.
3. World Bank. (2022). Beyond Scarcity: Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa.
4. Zeitoun, M. & Warner, J. (2006). “Hydro-hegemony – a framework for analysis of trans-boundary water conflicts.” Water Policy, 8(5).
5. Wolf, A. T. (2011). Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database (TFDD).
6. United Nations (2022). UN World Water Development Report: Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible.
