Water is a vital part of our lives. When it comes to a certain state where water become scares it has a huge impact on our lives. When nations constantly face increasing population growth and globalization, water becomes even more essential, since the demand for freshwater increase whilst our water supplies decrease. It is important to explain the matter of freshwater, since freshwater is the only water that can be used for e.g. agriculture and as drinking water, which are the most important components of our lives. The issue of water scarcity is complex since most of the water in the world is shared by two or more nations; therefore it is even more important to cooperate now than ever before. Water scarcity is found all over the world, although this thesis will primarily focus on the Tigris-Euphrates region; where water conflicts are very evident since three nations (riparians) share the two rivers. In this thesis I will do a case study of the Tigris-Euphrates in order to see if there are any possibilities or obstructions for Turkey, Iraq and Syria to reach a cooperative solution to the extensive conflict. A theoretical framework which is built upon the three level negotiation theory of water politics is going to be used to bring awareness to the negotiation process. The negotiation process over the two rivers water allocation amongst the three riparians have been far from successful, therefore there is a need to revise the current issue by using the three level negotiation theory as a foundation to advocate cooperation in order to find possible resolutions.

This thesis project addresses Islamic water management by presenting case studies on regional water issues and analyzing the extent to which Muslim-majority states behave in a way consistent with Islamic shariah law. The case studies presented in this thesis address both international cooperation related to the management of trans-boundary water basins (the Nile and Tigris-Euphrates River Basins) and domestic water management strategies employed by Muslim-majority states in the MENA region (Jordan and Yemen). In each case, it is not clear that there is consistency between the Islamic ideals discussed by academics and the actual techniques employed by various states. In international attempts at managing the shared waters of the Nile and Tigris-Euphrates Basins, the fact that many riparian states have Muslim-majority populations does not appear to make the management of trans-boundary resources any easier or more successful. The implications for Islamic water management at the domestic level is also unclear – with shariah playing a positive role in Jordanian attempts at water conservation but promoting the over-exploitation of resources in Yemen. Although shariah appears to play a limited role in the management of trans-boundary water resources, it seems to be better suited for informing how states internally manage their endowments of freshwater resources. / text

The Tigris and Euphrates are international rivers vital to the four countries through which they flow: Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The population in the region has more than doubled in less than thirty years, and irrigated agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, industrialization, and urbanization have increased. All of these developments require more water, and the dependence of the riparian nations on the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers has become apparent, as has the need for comprehensive, basin-wide management of water resources. At present the riparians have shown some concern about the management of water in the two rivers, although no consensus exists as to the precise nature of the problem or what should be done to resolve it. This policy-oriented dissertation attempts to help frame the policy issues of managing the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates basin. It also seeks to provide an understanding of the policy process and to meet the intelligence needs of policy-makers with regard to the future management of these international waterways. Finally, it provides strategies for developing and implementing a cooperative water policy for this international basin.