Water and ‘imperfect peace’ in the Euphrates–Tigris river basin

Abstract Transboundary water relations in the Euphrates–Tigris (ET) basin are often marked by political confrontation and rivalry between Iraq, Syria Turkey. Even absence of stability, riparian states have remained contact with one another over ET rivers at different levels establishing revitalizing joint governance mechanisms. In these processes, multiple actors—ranging from bureaucracies heads state government, to epistemic communities—have focused on cooperative socio-economic development aspects otherwise divisive water-related matters basin. Hence, article aims examine various emerging actors mechanisms, arguing that their co-existence demonstrates a case ‘imperfect peace’. Since invasion Iraq 2003 start domestic unrest 2011, transboundary been carried out within context an unstable international security environment, particularly emergence non-state armed groups who used as weapon against opponents. The therefore addresses policy-relevant research questions, such what kind mechanism should create cope violent control infrastructure under conditions same vein, analyses strategic role plays environmental peacebuilding discusses possible ways means improve protection during after conflicts.