Routledge Handbook of Water Diplomacy

A practical guide for cooperation

Water connects people, economies, and ecosystems—but it can also create tension where resources are scarce or unevenly shared. The Routledge Handbook of Water Diplomacy explores how cooperation over water can help build peace and resilience in a changing world.

Edited by Dr Martina Klimes (SIWI), Prof Shafiqul Islam (Tufts), Dr Aaron Salzberg (UNC), and Kevin Smith (Tufts), the Handbook combines research, case studies, and tools for diplomats, researchers, and practitioners who want to use water as a bridge rather than a barrier.

As Klimes explains in her Q&A , “It’s about how people cooperate under pressure and how institutions evolve to manage shared risks.”

Designed for practice and learning

Unlike many academic volumes, the Handbook is meant to be used. It connects to the AquaPedia online platform, allowing new examples and lessons to be added over time. Supported by UNESCO, it is fully open access, ensuring that knowledge and tools reach those who need them most, from policymakers to students.

Global perspectives, shared lessons

The book presents a wide range of experiences, from community-led watershed management in India to international river cooperation in the Colorado and Mekong basins. These cases reveal that successful water diplomacy depends not on a single model, but on trust, inclusion, and adaptability.

Why this matters now

As climate change alters rainfall, river flows, and groundwater systems, the need for water cooperation grows more urgent. The Handbook offers a shared language and flexible framework to guide negotiation, dialogue, and joint management, helping societies move from reactive crisis response to proactive, long-term resilience.