Political Leadership and Transboundary Water Governance: From Conflict to Cooperation

Transboundary water resources cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface and are shared by over 150 countries. While the physical dimensions of water scarcity and hydrological variability are well-documented, the political dimensions of transboundary water management remain underexplored. Water-sharing arrangements are shaped not only by geography and hydrology but also by the political contexts in which they emerge — including leadership transitions, shifts in domestic governance priorities, and the broader geopolitical environment. Recent developments across major international river basins, from the Euphrates-Tigris to the Nile and the Amu Darya, highlight that political will and leadership capacity are decisive factors in determining whether shared water resources become sources of tension or platforms for regional cooperation.Despite a growing body of literature on water conflict and cooperation, the specific role of political actors, governance transitions, and leadership dynamics in driving or impeding cooperative outcomes remains insufficiently theorized and empirically examined. This Research Topic seeks to advance understanding of how political leadership — at national, regional, and local levels — shapes the trajectory of transboundary water relations. It brings together interdisciplinary contributions examining how political leadership interacts with institutional frameworks, diplomatic processes, and geopolitical forces to transform contested water resources into opportunities for sustainable cooperation, with particular attention to regions where water stress and political volatility intersect — including the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and North Africa.We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and case studies addressing the following themes:o The role of political leadership and governance transitions in shaping transboundary water agreementso The political economy of shared water infrastructure and benefit-sharing arrangementso Domestic political dynamics and their influence on international water diplomacyo The intersection of hydropolitics with broader geopolitical realignmentso The use of water cooperation as a tool of regional peacebuildingContributions may draw on qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches and are encouraged to engage with specific basin case studies. Interdisciplinary submissions spanning political science, environmental governance, international relations, and water policy are particularly welcome. Topic editors: Abdullah Muratoglu, Mohammad Al-Saidi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81568/political-leadership-and-transboundary-water-governance-from-conflict-to-cooperation