Reflections

by Kyrstie Lane, Managing Editor

Water, a most basic necessity of human life, is taken for granted by many and yet is a source of great conflict for many others. As we continue to use and exploit our resources the whole world over, access to clean, fresh water becomes more and more difficult, and the habitats, species, and activities that depend on water are changed and threatened. Indeed, many of those who have for so long taken water as a simple fact of life, no further away than the turn of a tap, are already facing changes that indicate this may not be the case for much longer. The U.S. has been shocked by stories of water being shut off for poor residents in Detroit and the extreme drought in California, but in other parts of the world these issues are anything but new. Water conflicts are not so far away from any of us.

In the last year, the Center for Conflict Studies has focused heavily on water conflicts. Over the summer, the Center sent eight research fellows to Ethiopia, Burma, Mexico, and the West Bank to research water conflicts and gather the stories of the stakeholders in these conflicts. Next up, our annual conference in November will bring together academics and practitioners from all over the world to share case studies and research, and promote discussion on how we can move forward in a world where water is becoming more and more contested and complicated.

In this issue of Reflections, we continue to focus on water conflicts. Our cover photo and story by Peacebuilder Fellow Phoenix McLaughlin, who spent this summer researching water conflicts in Ethiopia, provides a unique commentary on some of the social aspects of scarce water in a town near Addis Ababa. Michael McGinnis argues for the importance of humans as a species to have deeper connections with and understanding of the environment and resources – significantly, water – around us, for the sake of our identity and resiliency. Ann Clarke uses enlightening examples from right here in California to show some of the myriad ways in which conflict can spring up around water. Robert C. Brears helps us to look to the future by discussing how, if water can be a source for conflict, it can also be an opportunity and a catalyst for cooperation. Our director Dr. Iyer’s column, Pedagogy of Conflict, draws a connection to our water theme by discussing the necessity of a thirst for knowledge on the part of conflict resolvers. Finally, this issue’s Picks of the Quarter presents three cases of populations that are struggling to access sufficient water in Brazil, South Africa, and the United States.

We hope this issue of Reflections, and the Center’s recent focus on water conflicts, will inspire you to reflect anew on our most precious resource and the many ways, positive and negative, that it may be a driving force for our future.