ABSTRACT
Regardless of the geographic scale or the riparians' relative level of economic development, the conflicts they face are remarkably similar. Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project, describes the problem in Pillars of Sand: Water, unlike other scarce, consumable resources, is used to fuel all facets of society, from biology and economy to aesthetics and spiritual practice. While the underlying reasons for water-related controversy can be numerous, such as power struggles and competing development interests, all water disputes can be attributed to one or more of three issues: quantity, quality, and timing. Competing claims for a limited quantity of water are the most obvious reason for water-related conflict. Conflicting interests concerning water quality, quantity, and timing can occur on many geographic scales, but the dynamics of conflict play out differently at international, national, and local levels. Low-level water cooperation between Israel and Jordan—under UN auspices—extends back to the early 1950s, even though both countries were formally at war.
