The Political Ecology of Hydropolitics along the Amudarya River Basin: Assessing Post-Soviet Water Disputes and Border Securitization

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 14, No. 2, February 2023 | pp. 10–18

DOI: 10.46882/2023/GJPCS/140201

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Ecology of Hydropolitics along the Amudarya River Basin: Assessing Post-Soviet Water Disputes and Border Securitization

Authors: Aigul N. Sadykova¹, Tariq H. Al-Sabahi²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of International Relations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan; ²Department of Political Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

Abstract:
The rapid construction of unauthorized irrigation channels and large-scale agricultural diversions along the upper reaches of the Amudarya River has introduced profound ecological disruptions and altered transboundary geopolitical relations in Central Asia. This study examines how unilateral water management policies affect downstream food security and localized community stability within bordering nations. Utilizing hydropolitical game theory models integrated with remote-sensing environmental data, we evaluate the socioeconomic impacts of altered river flow patterns. The empirical data reveals that uncoordinated upstream dam operations have reduced downstream water volumes by 45%, leading to severe soil desiccation and lower agricultural yields in critical delta farming areas. Our statistical simulations establish that the resulting reduction in agricultural productivity correlates directly with a 32% rise in household economic insecurity and localized resource disputes among farming communities. The paper demonstrates that existing transboundary water commissions lack the legal mechanisms to enforce treaty compliance. We argue that preventing interstate hydropolitical conflict requires establishing a binding multilateral governance framework that treats river basin preservation as a shared regional asset.

Keywords: Amudarya River Basin; Hydropolitics; Irrigation Diversions; Transboundary Water; Food Security; Political Ecology

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 10, 2021; Revised: August 14, 2021; Accepted: November 22, 2021; Published: February 14, 2023

Citation: Sadykova, A. N., & Al-Sabahi, T. H. (2023). The Political Ecology of Hydropolitics along the Amudarya River Basin: Assessing Post-Soviet Water Disputes and Border Securitization. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 14(2), 10–18. DOI: 10.46882/2023/GJPCS/140201

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