ABSTRACT
As competition for water increases globally, the water cycle will be unable to cope with the growing demands for water. An overview of global water availability and demand indicates profound challenges and an impending crisis in the water resource management sector. Multiscalar water disputes emerge as the material, institutional, and behavioral drivers of water insecurity add to the uncertainty of clean and adequate water supplies. Much of the debate around water has focused on the potential of “water wars,” as instances of ecological struggles surrounding water intensify around the world. This chapter seeks to question whether future wars will be caused by water shortages. It argues that while the potential for conflict exists as water becomes a threat multiplier, evidence does not portend that armed conflict over water will become a reality, and there exists a way forward in creating a secure resource future for states and water users by applying appropriate water governance mechanisms.
