Assessing Success in Transboundary Freshwater Treaties: A Qualitative Anlytical Framework for evaluating Political and Environmental Outcomes of Freshwater Treaties in the Global North and South

• In Event: Dynamic Demographics and Ecosystems

Abstract

Transboundary freshwater treaties play a crucial role in managing shared water resources, yet their effectiveness remains a subject of debate. This paper develops and applies an analytical framework to assess the success of three transboundary water treaties, the Indus, Mekong, and the Boundary water treaties using a multi-method qualitative approach. By triangulating coding analysis of treaty language, content analysis, archival research, in-depth interviews, and surveys, this research evaluates success through two primary criteria: political and environmental sustainability. Seven established factors: ranging from dispute resolution and collaborative management to conservation and adaptability are systematically analyzed using qualitative coding across treaty texts, scholarly discourse, institutional archives, media coverage, and expert interviews. This comprehensive framework spans case studies from two continents, deliberately including perspectives from both the Global North and Global South. The research contributes to the body of scholarship on water governance while offering a theoretical model for evaluating environmental agreements more broadly. The findings aim to inform future treaty negotiations and policy adjustments to enhance resilience and equitable water management in transboundary contexts amid increasing resource competition and hydrological uncertainty.

Author

• Jiedine Irene Alexandria Phanbuh, University of Massachusetts Boston