Water Scarcity and International Conflict

For many of us, water is a resource that we all too often take for granted. It flows freely and abundantly from our faucets and is usually so clean that there is little to worry about when it comes to quality. But for most of the world, clean water is so precious and scarce that people are willing to fight over it. Here at CSIS, we've examined the importance of water through our Global Water Futures Project, looking at everything from its impact on health to political stability. And it looks like the media has started to take notice as well.

An article in the Bright Green Blog of The Christian Science Monitor yesterday asked if water scarcity could become a driver of international conflict. While there has never been a war fought over water, we believe that water scarcity can lead to increased tensions between states and, ultimately, to conflict. Some have argued that the 1967 Six Day War had its origins in disputes over water, and the uncertainty over water resources in the West Bank is cited by others as one of the barriers to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. As climate change, population growth, and poor water management exaccerbate the problem of water scarcity throughout the globe, we may soon find ourselves witnessing the opening salvos of wars fought over water.