These two articles present elaborations on previous discussions on managing the Brahmaputra. Earlier, Crow and Singh wrote a compelling piece calling for a new multilateral regulatory authority for the river. The article was published by the East Asia Forum. In response, I wrote that a common development plan for the river should be based on human development principles. My response piece was published in the Asia Pacific Memo.
In brief, Crow and Singh argue that all the countries sharing the Brahmaputra river must come together under a common framework for development. They suggest that the Mekong River Commission and the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development offer a good starting point for discussion on possible institutional design of a new regulatory authority.
My piece highlights the fact that India and China, the two main riparian countries, are simply not interested in a common development plan for the river because of strategic or political reasons. Any discussion of joint management of the river ought to be mindful of the fact that the region is heavily militarized to maintain "social order" and border security. These factors are far more important to China and India than a common development for the river, which is also why existing models of joint management of transboundary rivers, including the Mekong River Commission, will not work. One possible and desirable way of breaking the deadlock, I suggest, is to put the needs of people and ecosystems before national strategic goals. You can read the full article here.
Thanks for your interest.
