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Paper short abstract:

This study examines the interplay between securitization theory and the global public goods concept in transboundary water disputes. Analyzing cases representative case studies, it explores how de-securitization can strengthen cooperative governance and conflict resolution on water resources.

Paper long abstract:

Freshwater resources are increasingly recognized as part of the common heritage of humankind, yet transboundary water disputes persist due to competing national interests. As a nonexcludable and nonrivalrous resource, water governance requires cooperative mechanisms that balance sovereignty concerns with shared management. However, the securitization of water disputes, where states frame water access as an existential security issue that in turn undermines the cooperative governance structures necessary for treating water as a global public good. This study examines the interplay between Copenhagen School's securitization theory and the basic concept of global public goods in the context of transboundary water conflicts. Through case studies including the Nile River Basin represented by the GERD Conflict, Tigris-Euphrates Basin, Lake Chad Basin, and Jordan River Basin, the study analyzes whether de-securitization strategies can reinforce cooperative management and how speech acts and emergency measures influences governance structures. Findings reveal that third-party actors (for example, the African Union, World Bank) can either exacerbate conflicts or facilitate de-securitization by promoting shared governance mechanisms that treat water as a global public good. By comparing patterns of securitization, de-securitization, and non-securitization, this study highlights policy pathways for sustainable and inclusive transboundary water governance. Recognizing freshwater as a global public good, the research advocates for institutional mechanisms that promote equitable consumption, shared decision-making, and fair distribution of benefits, ensuring long-term cooperation and conflict mitigation.