This Special Issue is dedicated to instruments and innovations in water policy intended to aid in the prevention of conflict over water resources. While much of the academic literature and popular media coverage of water conflict focuses on the potential for acute and/or violent conflict, especially among competing nations, this Issue looks at conflict more broadly defined, including at the sub-national, regional, and international levels. The emphasis should be on conflict prevention—as opposed to merely conflict resolution—with an emphasis on forward-looking anticipatory approaches, rather than reactionary ones. Both theoretical and empirical contributions are welcome.

Contributions addressing processes of global cooperation and regional integration and their implications for water-related conflict management from both theoretical and empirical perspectives are welcome.