Cooperation over International Water Resources: a Case from the Danube River Basin

This paper explores the dynamics of environmental conflict and cooperation under the conditions of relative power symmetry and involvement of various actors (not predominantly state-actors); especially, environmental groups. It analyzes the highly-contested water issue in the Danube river basin that refers to the multi-purpose ''Gabcikovo-Nagymaros'' project and its alleged detrimental impact on the environment. In order to present a thorough explanation of cooperative efforts, the paper discusses the Hungaria-Slovakian water conflict through following variables: (1) structural variables that include both (a) regional power distribution between disputants and regional countries, and, (b) issue-power distribution; (2) type of conflict (strategic versus symbolic); and (3) linkage variables that include a number of tactics to tie a particular water dispute to other issue/issues. The conflict analysis shows that the water dispute between Hungary and Slovakia involves dynamics that include a complex network of interactions between a number of domestic and international policy actors. It also indicates the conditions under which a voluntary mode of cooperation can produce unsatisfactory results.