Collective deliberation or just the state (in)action: how do we change the hydrodiplomacy landscape in South Asia?

Abstract

Hydrodiplomacy in South Asia is in a nascent stage, primarily focusing on data exchange and limited state-to-state interactions, leaving aside an array of organic approaches to understand the facets of water diplomacy and governance. This perspective piece is based on a series of webinars to identify ways to bridge these gaps in hydrodiplomacy in South Asia, highlighting the merit of multi-track diplomacy for embracing the plurality of interests and decision-making. The piece concludes that it is pertinent to build capacities for improving science-media communication, acknowledging and strategizing power asymmetry, and implementing international water law to guide water diplomacy. HIGHLIGHTS Hydrodiplomacy in South Asia is in a nascent stage.; Building capacities for improving science-media communication, acknowledging and strategizing power asymmetry, and the value of international water law to guide water diplomacy is essential for South Asian water diplomacy.;

Keywords

• formal and informal diplomacy
• hydrodiplomacy
• south asia
• water conflicts and cooperation