Environmental Cooperation in Conflict Zones: Riparian Infrastructure at the Armenian–Turkish Border

Abstract

Due to historical grievances, Armenia and Turkey experience severe international conflicts and do not maintain diplomatic ties. Yet, as a vestige of the Soviet period, when Armenia was not an independent country, both nations share the Arpacay/Akhuryan Dam, and riparian cooperation exists at the local level. We observed that local cross-border water institutions are authorized to manage the dam and do so via polycentric management principles. We suggest that such a devolved model of governance facilitates this unique cooperation. Furthermore, there is a positive relationship between private management of water resources in such areas and the ability to sustain cooperation. However, so far, the positive impacts of this cooperation on improving international relations have been little, if any. We suggest that what makes cooperation possible in this context also inhibits its expansion to broader peacebuilding. We also suggest that increased localization of management, coincident with improved relations, maximizes cooperation potential.

Environmental Management in Emerging Borders: Examining Polycentricity Opportunity in Crimea

“…The neighboring countries would have to manage the dams with the newly formed countries from then on, not with the USSR anymore. Cooperation continued despite the major stressors and interparty con icts, even three decades after the USSR dissolved, mostly due to the resilient management model (Altingoz & Ali, 2019). This model devolves authority to a small joint committee that is formed by technical personnel from both countries.…”

“…In many cases, cooperation over shared environmental factors did not have meaningful positive impacts on the relations of the riparians (e.g. Altingoz et al, 2018;2019;Khagram & Ali, 2006;Lowi, 1995;Raadgever et al, 2008). EPB is complex and its success depends on many factors.…”

Deadlocked in history and geopolitics: Revisiting Armenia–Turkey relations

“…Some scholars have even suggested expanding the already existing extensive cooperation between Armenia and Turkey over transboundary water management and environment cooperation, which has been the case since the 1930s. Based on the joint management of the Akhurian/Arpaçay Dam, Altıngöz and Ali (2019) have suggested applying the hydropolitics approach to Armenia-Turkey relations indicating "that countries cooperate when the net benefits of cooperation are perceived to be greater than the net benefits of noncooperation and when the distribution of these net benefits is perceived to be fair. "…”