| Global relations theory has long grappled using the | | | | diplomacy tend not to be able to cooperate in the |
| conflict between the unilateral sovereignty | | | | realm of "low" politics of economics and welfare. |
| requirements of states, and also the requirement | | | | Until the Arab−Israeli peace negotiations |
| for cooperation for transboundary transactions. | | | | began in 1991, attempts at Center East conflict |
| Because the flow of water does not respect | | | | resolution had either endeavored to tackle political |
| political boundaries, it has been clear that regional | | | | or resource difficulties, always separately. |
| management, at the watershed egree at least, | | | | By separating the two realms of "high" and "low" |
| will be a significantly more effective approach, at | | | | politics, some have argued, every process was |
| least from a management perspective. | | | | doomed to fail. In drinking water resource issues - |
| Nevertheless, drinking water has frequently been | | | | the Johnston Negotiations efforts at |
| "securitized," primarily because of internal politics, | | | | "water-for-peace," negotiations more than the |
| but has frequently had international repercussions. | | | | Yarmuk River and the Unity Dam, and the |
| The question has historically been posed | | | | GlobalWater Summit Initiative - all addressed |
| repeatedly, regardless of whether issues of | | | | water qua drinking water, separate from the |
| regional drinking water means, regarded a "low" | | | | political differences in between the parties. All |
| political issue, can be addressed in advance of | | | | failed to a single degree or an additional. |
| larger, "high," political issues of nationalism and | | | | In the most detailed argument in assistance of |
| diplomacy. Both sides happen to be argued in the | | | | the realists concerning Center Eastwater means, |
| past. | | | | Lowi (1993) suggests that issues of regional |
| The "functionalist theory" of international politics, | | | | water sharing simply could not be successfully |
| an alternative to the fairly self-explanatory "power | | | | broached within the Jordan basin until the bigger |
| politics," claims that states will willingly transfer | | | | political problems of territory and refugees are |
| sovereignty more than matters of public concern | | | | resolved. |
| to a common authority. Cooperation more than | | | | The Arab−Israeli Peace Talks with the |
| means, then, might induce cooperation over other, | | | | early 1990s, however, were the very first time |
| a lot more contentious and emotional problems. | | | | that both bilateral and multilateral tracks took |
| In the Middle East, this thinking was the rationale | | | | location simultaneously. The design was explicitly |
| for the extensive Johnston negotiations over a | | | | to provide venues for problems of both high |
| regional water-sharing strategy for the riparians of | | | | politics and low politics, using the premise that |
| the Jordan River from 1953 to 1955; below | | | | each might assist catalyze the pace with the |
| President Johnson's worldwide program known as | | | | other. |
| "Water for Peace," for cooperative assignments | | | | As Secretary of State James Baker, architect |
| for immense agro-industrial complexes fueled by | | | | with the negotiating structure, described the |
| nuclear energy and desalination in the late 1960s; | | | | relationship in his opening with the organizational |
| multilateral negotiations more than the Yarmuk | | | | meeting with the multilateral talks in Moscow: Only |
| River and also the Unity Dam in the 1970s and | | | | the bilateral talks can address and one day |
| 1980s; and an attempt at a Global Water Summit | | | | resolve the basic problems of territory, security, |
| Initiative including Middle Eastern participation in | | | | and peace, which the parties have identified as |
| 1991. | | | | the core elements of the lasting and extensive |
| It has also been argued that one require only wait | | | | peace between Israel and its neighbors. |
| for the cessation of hostilities before developing | | | | But it is true that those bilateral negotiations do |
| regional water-sharing plans and projects but that | | | | not take place inside a vacuum, and that the |
| cooperation more than these projects may | | | | condition of the region at big will affect them. In |
| advance the pace of resolution of bigger | | | | short, the multilateral talks are intended as a |
| problems: "A regional drinking water strategy need | | | | complement to the bilateral negotiations: each can |
| not await the achievement of peace. | | | | and will buttress the other. |
| To the contrary, its preparation, before a | | | | Or, as Joel Peters describes it, "Whereas the |
| extensive peace settlement is attained, could help | | | | bilaterals would deal using the difficulties inherited |
| clarify objectives to become aimed for in | | | | from the past, the multilaterals would focus about |
| achieving peace" (Ben-Shachar, 1989). Elisha Kally, | | | | the future shape with the Center East". The |
| an architect of many regional drinking water | | | | multilateral talks included 5 problems of regional |
| assignments in the Center East, has also | | | | significance. |
| contended that "the successful implementation of | | | | The only set which has survived the collapse of |
| cooperative projects... will strengthen and stabilize | | | | the peace negotiations and also the renewed |
| peace". | | | | violence of the early 2000s, and continues to |
| In contrast towards the functionalist argument, | | | | function to this day, may be the Multilateral |
| realist critics respond that states that are | | | | Working Group on Drinking water Means. |
| antagonists within the "high" politics of war and | | | | |