New Geopolitics Research

New Geopolitics Research

The Link between Hydropolitics and Human Security in the Tigris-Euphrates River Basin: A Land-Use Planning Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahdi Babaei 1
Roya Salimi 2
1 Master in Spatial Planning Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2 PhD In International Relations, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/nrpg.2026.2068937.1058
Abstract
The Tigris–Euphrates river basin, as one of the most important shared surface water resources in the Middle East, plays a vital role in supplying drinking water, supporting agriculture, and generating energy for Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Due to the development of large-scale dam projects, the uneven distribution of water resources, and climate change, this basin faces serious hydro-political challenges that have wide-ranging implications for human security, particularly in its livelihood, environmental, and social dimensions. The present study formulates research questions as follows: How do hydro-political dynamics in the Tigris–Euphrates basin affect human security, and what land-use planning approaches can be proposed for the management of shared water resources? The research argument posits that the absence of effective regional cooperation mechanisms and inadequate water resource management have intensified human security crises in the basin. Furthermore, it was indicated that a land-use planning approach can contribute to mitigating these crises and improving the optimal management of shared water resources. Using a qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach and through the analysis of credible documents, this study provides a deeper understanding of the complex interlinkages among hydro-politics, human security, and land-use planning. The findings indicate that unilateral exploitation of water resources and weak cooperative mechanisms among the riparian states of the Tigris–Euphrates basin have undermined human security, especially in downstream areas. Accordingly, adopting a land-use planning framework and implementing integrated management of shared water resources can reduce hydro-political tensions and enhance human security across the Tigris–Euphrates river basin.
Keywords
Keywords: The Tigris and Euphrates Basin
Hydro-politics
Human Security
Land-Use Planning
Shared Water Resources Management
ابراهیم‏زاده، عیسی؛ موسوی، میرنجف (1394)، اصول و مبانی آمایش سرزمین، تهران: سمت.
انصاریان، مجتبی، برخورداری، سجاد (1395)، تأثیر تحریم‏های تحمیلی بر ایران از منظر دکترین امنیت انسانی، تهران: تدبیر اقتصاد.
جلالی، سهیل (1400)، مجموعه سند ملی آمایش سرزمین در افق 1424 و قانون بودجه 1400، تهران: جهاد دانشگاهی واحد صنعتی امیر کبیر.
ذکی، یاشار، شیراوند، صارم (1400)، «تبیین رویکرد همبست در مناسبات هیدروپلیتیک منطقه آسیای مرکزی»، فصلنامه علمی مطالعات آسیای مرکزی و قفقاز، 27(114)، 63-34.
رشیدی‏نژاد، احمد؛ کاویانی‏راد، مراد؛ متقی دستنایی، افشین (1403)، «بازتاب اقدامات هیدروپلیتیک کشورهای بالادستی حوضه دجله و فرات بر امنیت جمهوری اسلامی ایران: نمونه‏پژوهی پروژه کاپ در ترکیه»، فصلنامه تحقیقات کاربردی علوم اجتماعی، 24(75)، 96-74.
سیمبر، رضا؛ پاک‏زاد، زهرا؛ پاک‏زاد، فاطمه (1404)، «هیدروپلیتیک و امنیت ملی بررسی وضعیت شرق ایران»، فصلنامه مطالعات و پژوهش‏های امنیت داخلی، 1(3)، 112-92.
صادقی، سید شمس‏الدین (1395)، «هیدروپلیتیک و امنیت ملی مطالعه موردی کشورهای منطقه خلیج فارس»، فصلنامه راهبرد، 25(4)، 144-118.
کلانتری، خلیل (1391)، برنامه‏ریزی فضایی و آمایش سرزمین، تهران: فرهنگ صبا.
مسعودی‏فر، هادی (1403)، امنیت انسانی در پرتو قواعد زیست محیطی، تهران: نگاه معاصر.
میرمحمدی، سیدمحمد (1386)، آمایش سرزمین و ملاحظات امنیت اقتصادی، تهران: تدبیر اقتصاد.
Al-Sarihi, Aisha and Mason, Michael (2025), Climate Policy and Politics in the Middle East: Environmental, Economic and Political Challenges, Bloomsbury Publishing.
Arafat, Alaa Al-Din (2025), Human Security in the Middle East and North Africa, Australia: Palgrave Macmillan, Pp1-413.
Barkhordari, Sjad, and Ansarian, Mojtaba (2016), the impact of imposed Sanction on Iran from the Perspective of Human Security Doctrine, Tehran: Tadbir Economic Research Institute. [In Persian].
Daoudy, Marwa (2020), the Orgins of the Syrian Conflict: Climate Change and Human Security, Cambridge University Press, Washington DC. DOI://doi.org/10.1017/9781108567053.
De Waal, Dominick and Khemani, Stuti and Barone, Andrea and Borgomeo, Edoardo (2025), The Economics of Water Scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa, Worid Bank Group, Pp. 1-190.
Ebrahimzadeh, Eisa, and Mousavi, Mirnajaf (2015), Principles and Foundations of Spatial Planning, Tehran: Samt. [In persian].
Elhance, Arun.p (1997), “Conflict and Cooperation over Water in the Aral Sea Basin”, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 20(2), 218-207.
Isayed, Ashraf, and Menendez-Aguado, Juan.M, and Jemmali, Hatem, and Mahmoud, Nidal (2024), “Water Poverty Index over the Past Two Decades: A Comprehensive Review and Future Prospects-The Middle East as a Case Study”, Water, 16 (2250), 1-22.
Jalali, Sohail (2021), National Spatial Planning Documents toward 2045 and the 2021 Budget Law, Tehran: Jahad Daneshgahi, Amir Kabir Industrial Unit. [In Persian].
Kalantari, Khalil (2012), Spatial Planning and Land Use Management, Tehran: Farhang Saba. [In Persian].
Kalfas, Dimitrios, and Kalogiannidis, Stavros, and Papaevangelou, Olympia, and Chatzitheodoridis, Fotios (2024), “Assessing the Connection between Land Use Planning, Water Resources, and Global Climate Change”, Water, 16(2), 1-18.
Kehl, Jenny (2011), “Hydropolitical Complexes and Asymmetrical Power: Conflict, Cooperation, and Governance of International River Systems”, Journal of World-Systems Research, 17 (1), 218-235.
Masoudifar, Hadi (2024), Human Security in Light of Environmental Rules, Tehran: Negah-e Moaser. [In Persian].
Metternicht, Graciela (2018), Land Use and Spatial Planning: Enabling Sustainable Management of Land Resources, Springer, 1-16.
Mikhalev, Alexey (2025), “From Geopolitics to Hydropolitics: In Search of the Dicipline Boundaries”, Power and Water, 27 (1), 7-17.
MirMohammadi, Seyed Mohammad (2007), Spatial Planning and Economic Security Considerations, Tehran: Tadbir-e Eqtesad Research Institute. [In Persian].
Moore, Scott M (2018), Subnational Hydropolitics: Conflict, Cooperation, and Institution-building in Shared River Basins, Oxford University Press.
Prniyazova, Albina and Turaeva, Suriya and Turgunov, Daniyar and Jarihani, Ben (2025), “Sustainable Transboundary Water Governance in Central Asia: Challenges, Conflicts”, and Regional Cooperation, Sustainability, 17(11), 1-21.
Prochazka, Petr and Honig, Vladimir and Maitah, Mansoor and Pljucarska, Ivana (2018), “Evaluation of Water Scarcity in Selecte Countries of the Middle East”, Water, 10 (10), 1-18.
Ramcharan, Bertrand G (2024), New Dimensions in the International Protection of Human Rights and the Need for a New Human Rights Diplomacy, Brill, Nijhoff. 1-222.
Rashidinejad, Ahmad, and Kavianirad, Morad, and Moteghidastanai, Afshin (2024), “Reflection of Hydropolitical Actions of Upstream Tigris and Euphrates Countries on Islamic Republic of Iran's Security: Case study Gap Project in Turkey”, A Quarterly Journal of Applied Social Science Research, 24(75), 74-96. [In persian].
Sadeghi, Seyed Shams-eddin (2016), “Hydropolitics and National Security: A Case Study of the Persian Gulf Countries”, A Quarterly Journal of Strategy, 25(4), 118-144. [In Persian].
Salameh, Mohemmed.T. Bani (2024). “The Economic, Political and Security Dimensions of the Water Crisis in Middle East”. Dirasat, Available at: https://doi.org/10.35516/HUM.V51I3.5.
Sarbaz, Navid, and Roumina, Ebrahim, and Hafeznia, MohammadReza Shababeygian (2025), “Hydropolitical Relations: Identification and Classification of Effective Factors”, Geopolitics Quarterly, 20(4), 105-136.
Simbar, Reza, and Pakzad, Zahra, and Pakzad, Fatemeh (2025), “Hydropolitics and National Security: Examining the Situation in Eastern Iran”, A Quarterly Journal of Internal Security Studies and Researches, 1(3), 92-112. [In Persian].
Wang, Guansu, and Kumar, Sameer, and Huang, Zhihong, and Liu, Ruoyi (2024), “Water Resource Management and Policy Evaluation in Middle Middle Eastern Countries”, Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol, 320, 1-19.
Waterbury, John (1979). Hydropolitics of the Nile Valley, Syracuse University Pr. 1-301.
Yilmaz, Mustafa Utku, and Yilmaz, Hulya (2025), “Sustainable Transboundary Water Governance: Trends, Challeneges, and Responses”. DOI:10.30546/19023.978-9952-8553-5-7.2025.6087.
Zaki, Yashar, and Shiravand, Sarem (2021), “Explaining the Cohesion Approach in Hydropolitical Relations of Central Asia”, A Quarterly Journal of Central Asia and Caucasus Studies, 27(114), 34-63. [In Persian].
New Geopolitics Research
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 4
January 2026
Pages 21-36