Abstract

MAGANDA, Carmen. Divided Water, Shared Water? An Approach to Cross-border Aquifers in South America. Estud. Polit. [online]. 2008, n.32, pp.171-194. ISSN 0121-5167.

This article focuses on border water politics in South America with specific discussion of the Colombia-Venezuela Border. Through a comparative perspective, the author analyzes the impact of political decision-making on water access and distribution in border contexts. The author argues that the internationalization of water management in these border regions weakens public participation due to limited public knowledge of the environmental agendas of regional organizations, such as the Andean Community and its institutions. Shared driver basins or aquifers are invisible resources for all citizens in South America which can be transformed into potential sources of conflict or cooperation and regional integration. Cooperation is definitely necessary in these cases. A few efforts have been noted recently in Latin America. Amongst them is one by conducted by UNESCO called ISARM (International Shared Aquifer Resource Management), created in 2002. It is particularly important to place attention on the lack of transnational agreements on South American water borders on the sharing of responsibilities, decisions and the management of transboundary waters. The author highlights the case of the Cúcuta-San Antonio aquifer between Colombia and Venezuela, which lacks clear bi-national management.

Keywords : Water politics; Integral management of water resources; Colombia-Venezuela border conflicts; Regional integration.

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