Half empty or half full: Understanding early coordination strategy as a means to mitigate regional water scarcity

The purpose of this paper to is to examine how nation states are able to overcome collective action problems to solve regional water scarcity. Drawing upon global governance and traditional international relations theories, I use multiple methodologies to evaluate the underlying motivations for interstate water accord cooperation.; A major assumption is that nation states must play an increasingly integral role in reducing water scarcity. How this is accomplished is the crux of this paper. Overall, scholarly research has concentrated on individual water cooperation cases with emphasis on the outcomes. Scant attention has been directed towards understanding the motivations behind establishing these accords. However, since global water scarcity is an increasing threat, it is important to develop a broader understanding of interstate water accord cooperation.; I approach this problem by utilizing multiple methodologies. Quantitative analysis is important because it provides a general but aggregate understanding of interstate water accord cooperation. Geertz stated that in order to understand the bricks (institutions), one must look at the mortar (culture). Therefore, I evaluate interstate water accord cooperation qualitatively by incorporating non quantifiable variables such as culture, third parties, amongst other socioeconomic considerations.; Ultimately, this paper offers a distinct template for understanding how state behavior can manage and sustain regional water resources, thereby contributing to intergenerational equity. This is a difficult proposition considering that there are over 75 different meanings of sustainability. However, a basic starting point is that society must safeguard and conserve natural resources today so that future generations will have the same opportunity tomorrow. Theodore Roosevelt stated: "In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." Too often societal responses pertaining to the environment have dictated the latter two responses. Hopefully, the central arguments and research findings offered in this paper will make an important contribution towards the first choice.