Trickle-down tensions: The hydropolitics of transboundary river systems in Asia

Ear to Asia

The rivers of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau, a lifeline for hundreds of millions of people across Asia, are a hotbed of geopolitical tension. A history of colonialism, border disputes, and competing interests has made present-day transboundary governance exceptionally challenging, as national governments, non-state actors, international organisations, and local communities vie for influence. Heated negotiations over managing the rivers, including plans for dams and other water infrastructure, impact riparian populations, agriculture and the environment downstream. So how to make sense of the tapestry of interests to be found along rivers such as the Mekong or the Brahmaputra? How do less powerful states negotiate with more powerful ones upstream? And what strategies can policymakers and other stakeholders adopt to promote equitable and sustainable water governance in the face of climate change? Dr Ruth Gamble from La Trobe University and Zali Fung from the University of Melbourne join presenter Sami Shah to examine the complex geopolitics surrounding rivers of our planet’s third pole. An Asia Institute podcast. Produced and edited by profactual.com. Music by audionautix.com.