Contribution short abstract:

This study investigates how macroeconomic policies by Iran and Afghanistan have transformed Lake Hamoun’s ecology. By exacerbating drought, political tensions, and resource overuse, these policies have spurred water scarcity, sandstorms, and migration, reshaping Sistan's social fabric.

Contribution long abstract:

Political tensions between Iran and Afghanistan profoundly shape the environment and daily lives of those residing in the Sistan region. Following Afghanistan’s separation from Iran under the Treaty of Herat, disputes over water allocation from the Helmand River—a critical source feeding Lake Hamoun—have intensified. Despite agreements like the 1973 treaty, Afghanistan's non-compliance, influenced by political and environmental factors, has restricted Iran’s water share, exacerbating environmental degradation in Sistan.

This study examines the interplay between macro-political decisions and environmental changes in Lake Hamoun, alongside the identity transformations experienced by Sistan’s residents. Through historical analysis and interviews with both local inhabitants and migrants, this research addresses three key questions: How do macro-political phenomena manifest in the environmental context of Lake Hamoun? How do Sistan’s residents perceive and navigate these changes in their daily lives? And how do macro politics, environmental conditions, and social experiences interact?

By exploring these questions, the research sheds light on the cascading effects of political relations on water scarcity, economic hardships, migration, and sandstorms, revealing their profound impact on the social and individual identities of the Sistan region's people. This work underscores the urgent need to address these intertwined challenges to ensure the ecological and social resilience of Lake Hamoun and its communities.