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Emotions in Water Diplomacy : Negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Seide, Wondwosen Michago LU and Fantin, Emanuele (2023) In Water Alternatives 16(3). p.188-194
Abstract

This paper aims to foreground the importance of emotions in water diplomacy in general and in Nile water diplomacy in particular. Water diplomacy does not operate from a clean slate, but in a socio-hydropolitically mediated context which is, in turn, imbued with emotions. The existing water diplomacy approach primarily operates with the assumption that the riparian state is a rational actor. However, we argue that emotions have underpinned water diplomacy, including the ongoing Nile negotiations. These emotions are neither acknowledged nor negotiated but are dismissed as irrationality in both the theoretical understanding and practice of water diplomacy. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a bone of contention between,... (More)

This paper aims to foreground the importance of emotions in water diplomacy in general and in Nile water diplomacy in particular. Water diplomacy does not operate from a clean slate, but in a socio-hydropolitically mediated context which is, in turn, imbued with emotions. The existing water diplomacy approach primarily operates with the assumption that the riparian state is a rational actor. However, we argue that emotions have underpinned water diplomacy, including the ongoing Nile negotiations. These emotions are neither acknowledged nor negotiated but are dismissed as irrationality in both the theoretical understanding and practice of water diplomacy. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a bone of contention between, and evoked deep emotions in, Ethiopia and Egypt. Even if they are often unacknowledged by water policy makers, diplomats, and engineers in negotiations on how to fill and operate the GERD, these actors are inevitably negotiating emotions such as fear of water insecurity, anger over water injustice, harm aversion, impact minimisation, and threat diffusion. Conclusions point to the understanding of emotions as one important element influencing the process and outcome of water negotiations in general and on the Nile River in particular. To achieve effective cooperation among riparian states, an assessment of the issues’ emotional impacts may be necessary.

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author
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Egypt, Emotions, Ethiopia, GERD, negotiations, Nile River, water diplomacy
in
Water Alternatives
volume
16
issue
3
pages
7 pages
publisher
IRD Centre; Montpellier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85178056391
ISSN
1965-0175
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Funding Information: Susanne Schmeier provided valuable feedback at various stages of the writing process. Publisher Copyright: © THIS ARTICLE IS DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-SHAREALIKE LICENSE WHICH PERMITS ANY NON COMMERCIAL USE, DISTRIBUTION, AND REPRODUCTION IN ANY MEDIUM, PROVIDED THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR(S) AND SOURCE ARE CREDITED. SEE HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY-NC-SA/3.0/FR/DEED.EN
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3a196cb5-93b8-403d-8ad5-bada082478ab
date added to LUP
2024-01-10 12:55:26
date last changed
2024-01-10 12:57:14
@article{3a196cb5-93b8-403d-8ad5-bada082478ab,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper aims to foreground the importance of emotions in water diplomacy in general and in Nile water diplomacy in particular. Water diplomacy does not operate from a clean slate, but in a socio-hydropolitically mediated context which is, in turn, imbued with emotions. The existing water diplomacy approach primarily operates with the assumption that the riparian state is a rational actor. However, we argue that emotions have underpinned water diplomacy, including the ongoing Nile negotiations. These emotions are neither acknowledged nor negotiated but are dismissed as irrationality in both the theoretical understanding and practice of water diplomacy. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a bone of contention between, and evoked deep emotions in, Ethiopia and Egypt. Even if they are often unacknowledged by water policy makers, diplomats, and engineers in negotiations on how to fill and operate the GERD, these actors are inevitably negotiating emotions such as fear of water insecurity, anger over water injustice, harm aversion, impact minimisation, and threat diffusion. Conclusions point to the understanding of emotions as one important element influencing the process and outcome of water negotiations in general and on the Nile River in particular. To achieve effective cooperation among riparian states, an assessment of the issues’ emotional impacts may be necessary.</p>}},
  author       = {{Seide, Wondwosen Michago and Fantin, Emanuele}},
  issn         = {{1965-0175}},
  keywords     = {{Egypt; Emotions; Ethiopia; GERD; negotiations; Nile River; water diplomacy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{188--194}},
  publisher    = {{IRD Centre; Montpellier}},
  series       = {{Water Alternatives}},
  title        = {{Emotions in Water Diplomacy : Negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}