Violence, the bitit canal and the Nile Basin: An asymmetric comparison

Abstract

This chapter uses a comparative case study methodology to compare very different hydrological systems: the Nile and the Bitit canal. While at first the two systems appear vastly different, they share several features. First, they are both inhabited by diverse communities. Second, they are both subject to partial and unclear legal regimes. Third, they are both located in environments where natural resources are under severe strain. The chapter addresses the question of violence in the two systems and finds that the best solution to issues related to water distribution is shared and participatory management of the water.