Water is a valuable natural resource, being considered a major source for the maintenance of social and political stability. In this paper we discuss how water influences on contemporary international relations between States, taking as an example the La Plata River basin (LPRB) countries. Located in South America and covering parts of five countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), the LPRB has an area of more than 3 million km², essential not just for economics means, but for the social and political development of the region. This transboundary basin is considered to be one of the most important water reservoirs in the world and has been the scene of conflicts since the beginning of the colonization period, influencing even in the present international relations. The objective of this paper is, firstly, to present how water issues interact with international relations, especially due to cooperation and conflict processes. Second, to present the LPRB and discuss the states international relations based on their legislations, transboundary issues and cooperation processes. This work will contribute to water management, especially regarding transboundary water, showing that water is a powerful force and play a major role in the international relations, being able to affect countries and societies.

1. TRANSBOUNDARY WATER ISSUES ON THE
CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE LA PLATA
BASIN COUNTRIES
Isabela Battistello Espíndola
Wagner Costa Ribeiro
PPGH - FFLCH - USP
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2. INTRODUCTION
Water is a valuable and crucial natural resource (Chocron, 2015)
Major source for the maintenance of social and political stability in any
country
Touching issue upon the national security
Conflict source
Water issues and IR
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3. WATER ISSUES
Water crisis
Water pollution
Water scarcity
Water quality
Water rights
Water management
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COOPERATION
CONFLICT

4. TRANSBOUNDARY
WATERBASIN
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5. LAPLATABASIN
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6. -50% of the five countries combined population live in the
basin.
-The basin concentrates the largest amount and density of
population in South America
-Hosts nationals’ capitals (Asuncion, Brasilia, Buenos Aires,
Montevideo and Sucre)
-Host Sao Paulo, one of the largest urban concentrations in
the world and one of the most important industrial centers
on the planet, with its 18 million inhabitants
-Concentrates most of the economic activity in South
America
(CIC, 2017a; 2017b).0 6
LAPLATABASIN

7. -Has a potential estimated at 92,000 MW
-60% of this hydroelectric potential has already been
developed or is in the process of becoming one.
-More than 150 hydroelectric plants
-Itaipú, one of the largest producers of hydropower in the
world, Yacyretá and Salto Grande are binational and large-
scale power plants.
-Hundreds of thermal power plants, and three nuclear power
plants, Angra dos Reis (Brazil) and Atucha I and II
(Argentina)
(CIC, 2017a).
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LAPLATABASIN
ENERGY

8. -70% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the five
countries is generated in the basin
-Agriculture is the main economic activity developed
-Industrial, mining, energy, transport (navigation), ecosystem
protection and tourism sectors
-Hydrographic network is fundamental to connect the
production, storage and consumption centers with the ports
-The Paraguay-Paraná waterway (Puerto Cáceres-Nueva
Palmira) deserves some highlights as it has reached up to 13
million tons of merchandise in 2004
(CIC, 2017a).
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LAPLATABASIN
ECONOMY

9. 0 8
LAPLATABASIN
ECONOMY

10. -La Plata Basin Treaty
-CIC (International Coordinating Committee of the
Countries of the La Plata Basin)
-Constitutional, legal and regulatory provisions of a national,
provincial, state or municipal government
-Conventions, international treaties and other global
environmental and water agreements
-United Nations Convention on the of international
watercourses for purposes other than navigation
(CIC, 2017a).
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LAPLATABASIN
FRAMEWORKS

11. -Bermejo and the Grande de Tarija rivers agreements
(Argentina and Bolivia, 1955)
-Treaty of Itaipu (Brazil and Paraguay, 1973)
-Treaty of Yacyretá (Argentina and Paraguay, 1973)
-Project of the hydroelectric power station of Corpus (Argentina
and Paraguay, 1975)
-Strategic Program of Action for the Bermejo river basin
(Argentina and Bolivia, 1997)
-Project for the Implementation of Integrated Management of
Watersheds for the Pantanal and Upper Paraguay Basin
(Brazil and Paraguay, 1999)
-Cooperation Agreement for the Sustainable Development and
Shared Management of the Apa River Basin (Brazil and
Paraguay, 2006)
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LAPLATABASIN
COOPERATION

12. -Political and administrative gaps
-Different political and administrative structures with
diverse levels of development, institutional and technical
capacities
-The form of territorial organization of the state, whether
unitary or federal, a major factor in defining the legal
framework applicable to the management of natural
resources, is different between the five countries;
(CIC, 2017a; 2017b).
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LAPLATABASIN
TENSIONS

13. 1 2
LAPLATABASIN
TENSIONS

14. -Permeate the economic and social spheres, impacting on the
basin ecosystem and making it more susceptible to extreme
events
-Some aren’t exactly new (energy production and land uses
-The Itaipu Agreement (Brazil and Paraguay) revision in
2023: challenge for both countries
-The 2023 revision will focus on the cost of the tariff and on the
possibility that the energy can be sold to any buyer, -Paraguay
wishes to increase the price charged for the energy exported to
Brazil, and a possible reduction in the volume offered to Brazil
or even an increase in the price charged could affect the own
energy tariff of Brazil
(CIC, 2017a; 2017b; CAMPOS; VERDELIO, 2019).1 1
LAPLATABASIN
CRITICALISSUES

15. 1 1
LAPLATABASIN
CRITICALISSUES

16. FINAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Water, by its very nature, instigates competition, conflict and
cooperation
La Plata Basin possess a sufficient legal framework for the
management and protection of water resources, which is
integrated with national law
Gap between the legal framework and its practical application
Need for harmonization of the constitutional rules of the
LPRB countries
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17. THANK YOU
+55 11 9 66262614
isaespindola@usp.br
2017_17997-9
PHONE
EMAIL
FAPESP
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