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Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on trans-local civil society alliances which contest hydro-hegemony in the Euphrates-Tigris river basin. It will examine the confronting claims following rivers of mesopotamia and their historical roots as well new images of community emerging in the region and theier cooperation outside the region.

Paper long abstract:

An alliance of civil society actors and organizations are contesting what Zeitoun and Warner (2006) called ‘hydro-hegemony’: Large scale dam projects like the Turkish Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) present a monopolisation of transboundary water resources for the cause of a nation-state development policy.

In this case the historical foundation for this hegemony was laid after the First World War with the Treaty of Lausanne in which the borders between Turkey and the present-day states of Iraq and Syria were drawn.

The sources of the Euphrates-Tigris are thus located within the territory of Turkey and the river system extends from the Taurus Mountains to the arid and semi-arid regions of Syria and Iraq.

The region is threatened by severe droughts, supply crises and environmental disasters. In all three countries Turkey, Syria and Iraq there is growing concern for a protection of ecosystems, 'waterscapes'

and cultural heritage as well as questions of sustainability and social justice, but local population is confronted with diminished political participation and shrinking spaces of civil society. Within this, new images of community are emerging - defined by the course of the river and crossing nation-state and ethnic-religious borders. By using the concept of political ecology I will analyse the new trans-local/international spaces and coalitions that open up through water/eco advocacy and mutual learning.