Control of drinking water resources as the cause of regional conflicts

Abstract

water is an unavoidable and very important factor of social and economic development of each country. It also occurs more and more as a deficient resource at a global level. The needs for drinking water grow enormously fast due to anthropogenic factors: the rise in world population, the increased scope of commercial and industrial activities and climatic changes. Taking this into consideration, the management of drinking water resources as a significant task in the time we live in becomes an imperative. During the history of human society the quantity and quality of this resource on earth has constantly decreased followed by an increase in tension between countries. The intention to dominate scarce drinking water resources in arid and subarid regions has resulted in a greater number of conflicts, which have often been resolved by the use of force. This paper emphasizes the role, importance and state of drinking water resources in the world, factors that threaten its available resources, as well as increase in tension, conflicts and regional conflicts over control of remaining drinking water resources.

Keywords

• drinking water resources
• conflict
• regional conflicts
• water stress