International Journal of Sustainable Society http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=297&year=2012&vol=4&issue=1/2 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Sustainable Society 1756-2538 1756-2546 © 2012 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijssoc_scoverijssoc.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=297&year=2012&vol=4&issue=1/2 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44658 Whether, the world will have to deal with water war(s) in 21st century or beyond for competition over shared international freshwater resources? Nothing is one sided – each and every time – there is another side of the story. This is so true for the two schools of thoughts – that exist in current academic debate – for and against the possibility of water wars. This introductory paper argues that perceived fears of losing control over shared water might contribute towards a constant preparedness to go to war among riparian nations. It emphasises that while this kind of academic debate for and against water wars is healthy, it is also important that instead of outright dismissal of any school of thought as a myth, water professionals should equip themselves with the tools to uproot the root causes of the fears behind the water wars debate. This urgent need is the essence behind the idea of this special issue, not to put an end to this debate. Water wars in 21st century: speculation or reality?
Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 3 - 10
Whether, the world will have to deal with water war(s) in 21st century or beyond for competition over shared international freshwater resources? Nothing is one sided – each and every time – there is another side of the story. This is so true for the two schools of thoughts – that exist in current academic debate – for and against the possibility of water wars. This introductory paper argues that perceived fears of losing control over shared water might contribute towards a constant preparedness to go to war among riparian nations. It emphasises that while this kind of academic debate for and against water wars is healthy, it is also important that instead of outright dismissal of any school of thought as a myth, water professionals should equip themselves with the tools to uproot the root causes of the fears behind the water wars debate. This urgent need is the essence behind the idea of this special issue, not to put an end to this debate.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044658 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 3 - 10 Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo FIN-00076, Finland; Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK water wars peace shared water resources conflict cooperation 21st century management international river basins fear constant preparedness for war freshwater resources riparian countries. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 3 10 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44662 River basin organisations (RBOs) have made important contributions to the mitigation of water-related international collective action problems, decreasing the likelihood of water wars. However, the state of many of the world's rivers remains challenged by environmental degradation and the unilateral exploitation of natural resources. This suggests that RBOs have not been sufficiently effective in ensuring the sustainable development of river basins, which entails the possible (re)emergence of collective action problems. Moreover, RBOs vary significantly in their effectiveness across river basins. This paper develops a theoretical framework for the assessment of the different determinants of RBO effectiveness that can be used for studying the effectiveness of existing RBOs and deriving policy options for improvement. It is found that the effectiveness of RBOs in governing river basins largely depends on their institutional design, but it is also influenced by underlying structural factors related to each basin's problem- and the situation-structure. Navigating cooperation beyond the absence of conflict: mapping determinants for the effectiveness of river basin organisations
Susanne Schmeier
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 11 - 27
River basin organisations (RBOs) have made important contributions to the mitigation of water-related international collective action problems, decreasing the likelihood of water wars. However, the state of many of the world's rivers remains challenged by environmental degradation and the unilateral exploitation of natural resources. This suggests that RBOs have not been sufficiently effective in ensuring the sustainable development of river basins, which entails the possible (re)emergence of collective action problems. Moreover, RBOs vary significantly in their effectiveness across river basins. This paper develops a theoretical framework for the assessment of the different determinants of RBO effectiveness that can be used for studying the effectiveness of existing RBOs and deriving policy options for improvement. It is found that the effectiveness of RBOs in governing river basins largely depends on their institutional design, but it is also influenced by underlying structural factors related to each basin's problem- and the situation-structure.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044662 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 11 - 27 Susanne Schmeier Hertie School of Governance, Quartier 110, Friedrichstrasse 180, 10117 Berlin, Germany international watercourses water wars water resources governance RBOs river basin organisations effectiveness institutional design sustainable development sustainability river basins collective action. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 11 27 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44664 The sustainable management of the worlds freshwater resources is one of the most daunting challenges faced by the global community. Increasing local and transboundary tensions over the control of water not only cause disruptions in socio-economic development, but also threaten the very foundation of international security. However, this crisis is also a time of opportunity – the opportunity to drive new thinking in international water – law forward. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this discourse by (1) explaining why water has to be considered the key to 'ultimate' security; (2) proposing the '4A' framework of water security and (3) sketching out a new pathway for addressing global water insecurity on the basis of the progressive development of international law. The central hypothesis is that we need to develop the fundamental tenets of international (water) law further in order to manage our freshwater resources sustainably in an increasingly water insecure world. Rising to the challenge of water security: international (water) law in need of refinement
Bjørn-Oliver Magsig
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 28 - 44
The sustainable management of the worlds freshwater resources is one of the most daunting challenges faced by the global community. Increasing local and transboundary tensions over the control of water not only cause disruptions in socio-economic development, but also threaten the very foundation of international security. However, this crisis is also a time of opportunity – the opportunity to drive new thinking in international water – law forward. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this discourse by (1) explaining why water has to be considered the key to 'ultimate' security; (2) proposing the '4A' framework of water security and (3) sketching out a new pathway for addressing global water insecurity on the basis of the progressive development of international law. The central hypothesis is that we need to develop the fundamental tenets of international (water) law further in order to manage our freshwater resources sustainably in an increasingly water insecure world.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044664 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 28 - 44 Bjørn-Oliver Magsig IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science (under the auspices of UNESCO), University of Dundee, Dundee, UK water security international water law sustainable development water conflict water interaction regional common concern water wars sustainability global water insecurity international law freshwater resources water resources. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 28 44 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44665 Although the study of hydropolitics (i.e. the geopolitics of water) is mainly an offshoot of the discipline of International Relations (IR), the use of IR conceptual tools remains largely implicit in the literature. As a result, theoretical exploration has been very limited in hydropolitics and is usually cast within IR's traditional divide between realism and liberalism. This is problematic because the quest for a predictive and parsimonious science of politics that characterises mainstream IR theory may be overly rigid and too narrow a strategy to understand the full diversity exhibited by water-related interstate relations around the globe. With its anti-deterministic and pro-human agency stance, constructivism constitutes a promising alternative approach to hydropolitics that can be explored if theorisation is made explicit. In this regard, securitisation theory is one example of constructivism's great potential in hydropolitical analysis. Hydropolitics is what societies make of it (or why we need a constructivist approach to the geopolitics of water)
Frédéric Julien
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 45 - 71
Although the study of hydropolitics (i.e. the geopolitics of water) is mainly an offshoot of the discipline of International Relations (IR), the use of IR conceptual tools remains largely implicit in the literature. As a result, theoretical exploration has been very limited in hydropolitics and is usually cast within IR's traditional divide between realism and liberalism. This is problematic because the quest for a predictive and parsimonious science of politics that characterises mainstream IR theory may be overly rigid and too narrow a strategy to understand the full diversity exhibited by water-related interstate relations around the globe. With its anti-deterministic and pro-human agency stance, constructivism constitutes a promising alternative approach to hydropolitics that can be explored if theorisation is made explicit. In this regard, securitisation theory is one example of constructivism's great potential in hydropolitical analysis.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044665 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 45 - 71 Frédéric Julien School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa, Desmarais Building, Room 9101, 55 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada hydropolitics water geopolitics environmental security constructivism rationalism international relations theories societal choices sustainable society securitisation theory water crisis water scarcity water wars water conflict water cooperation water security water rationality water resources sustainability. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 45 71 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44666 Shared rivers are not only expected to cause conflict, but they can also contribute to build engagement and cooperation among the riparian states. Particularly in the last two decades, several competing riparian countries have formally agreed to share and, in some cases develop their common water resources. Many agreements have been drawn up in the South to share the international river basins. Noteworthy ones are: Zambezi, Mekong, Jordan, Ganges and Nile Rivers. However, these agreements are presently going through severe stress due to increasing demand and decreasing supply of water resources. Moreover, global climate change raises certain possibility of long-term changes to the volume and pattern of run-off in these shared river systems. This paper critically examines the suitability of existing agreements on major international river systems in the South to address the challenges posed by the global climate change. Global climate change and challenges for international river agreements
Ashok Swain
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 72 - 87
Shared rivers are not only expected to cause conflict, but they can also contribute to build engagement and cooperation among the riparian states. Particularly in the last two decades, several competing riparian countries have formally agreed to share and, in some cases develop their common water resources. Many agreements have been drawn up in the South to share the international river basins. Noteworthy ones are: Zambezi, Mekong, Jordan, Ganges and Nile Rivers. However, these agreements are presently going through severe stress due to increasing demand and decreasing supply of water resources. Moreover, global climate change raises certain possibility of long-term changes to the volume and pattern of run-off in these shared river systems. This paper critically examines the suitability of existing agreements on major international river systems in the South to address the challenges posed by the global climate change.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044666 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 72 - 87 Ashok Swain Uppsala Centre for Sustainable Development, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE 751 20, Sweden climate change international rivers Mekong Ganges Jordan Nile Zambezi shared rivers international river agreements international agreements riparian countries common water resources run-off water wars conflict. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 72 87 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44667 Several previous manuscripts have identified an opportunity to create a positive-sum outcome for fresh water development and use by the five riparians of the Jordan River basin, in which all parties would receive enhanced resources concurrently, over time. This relies on the development of 'new water' coupled to the more efficient use of the existing water supplies. The application of the trans-boundary waters opportunity analysis in this study shows that the five riparians possess a major opportunity for regional economic development, coupled to protection against the possible negative effects of climate change. However, entrenched mindsets and historical competition over the existing water resources represent formidable barriers to more enlightened regional water management, and the riparians are presently at a crossroads as to whether conflict or cooperation will result in the future. The Jordan River basin: at the crossroads between conflict and cooperation
David J.H. Phillips
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 88 - 102
Several previous manuscripts have identified an opportunity to create a positive-sum outcome for fresh water development and use by the five riparians of the Jordan River basin, in which all parties would receive enhanced resources concurrently, over time. This relies on the development of 'new water' coupled to the more efficient use of the existing water supplies. The application of the trans-boundary waters opportunity analysis in this study shows that the five riparians possess a major opportunity for regional economic development, coupled to protection against the possible negative effects of climate change. However, entrenched mindsets and historical competition over the existing water resources represent formidable barriers to more enlightened regional water management, and the riparians are presently at a crossroads as to whether conflict or cooperation will result in the future.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044667 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 88 - 102 David J.H. Phillips Phillips Robinson and Associates, P.O. Box 90488, Klein Windhoek, Namibia Jordan River positive sum outcome economic development conflict cooperation TWO analysis trans-boundary waters opportunity analysis common water resources shared rivers water wars riparian countries climate change regional development water management. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 88 102 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44668 Since independence, Central Asian nations are going through political, economical and social changes. The transition also has had long-term impact on water sector, once second largest user of the state funds during the Soviet times. After the independence, growing economic crisis, limited funding capacities of national states have reduced inflow of finances into the water sector. This in turn reduced influence and role of water bureaucrats in nation building scene. The reforms in agriculture and other sectors of economy have seriously changed situation in water sector. Two out of five countries have kept Ministry of Water Resources as separate entity, in one country it merged with agriculture but still have separate department, in two countries water management department is part of Environmental Agency. Although those changes in water sector took place at the national level have far reaching impact on regional level. In the last few years, the issues of water management in Central Asia become a political issue. Role of technocratwater managers reduced from active agenda setters to observers. This paper highlights importance of the integrated approach to water sector reforms which will enhance efficiency of water resources management hence increased likelihood of the cooperation among the region's countries on water management. Water sector in Central Asia: slow transformation and potential for cooperation
Iskandar Abdullaev; Shahlo Atabaeva
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 103 - 112
Since independence, Central Asian nations are going through political, economical and social changes. The transition also has had long-term impact on water sector, once second largest user of the state funds during the Soviet times. After the independence, growing economic crisis, limited funding capacities of national states have reduced inflow of finances into the water sector. This in turn reduced influence and role of water bureaucrats in nation building scene. The reforms in agriculture and other sectors of economy have seriously changed situation in water sector. Two out of five countries have kept Ministry of Water Resources as separate entity, in one country it merged with agriculture but still have separate department, in two countries water management department is part of Environmental Agency. Although those changes in water sector took place at the national level have far reaching impact on regional level. In the last few years, the issues of water management in Central Asia become a political issue. Role of technocratwater managers reduced from active agenda setters to observers. This paper highlights importance of the integrated approach to water sector reforms which will enhance efficiency of water resources management hence increased likelihood of the cooperation among the region's countries on water management.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044668 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 103 - 112 Iskandar Abdullaev; Shahlo Atabaeva Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, German International Cooperation, Abdullaev Str. 2 A, Tashkent 100100, Uzbekistan ' A.Urunov Street. 24, Khujand 735700, Tajikistan water management water bureaucracies Central Asia transboundary Amu Darya Syr Darya transformation regional cooperation conflict water resources water wars hydropolitics politics. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 103 112 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44669 While best practice in water management typically calls for the use of a basin-level approach, specific guidance in the absence of basin-level management is fairly scant. This paper reviews the experience of the Syr Darya basin to identify insights related to second best practices for water management at scales below the basin level. This paper first presents the causes for the disintegration of river basin management within the Syr Darya, which include both changes in operation of the Toktogul reservoir and rising water demands due to shifts in agricultural production and land ownership. Focus is then devoted specifically to small transboundary tributaries, where bottom-up cooperation has continued or reemerged in recent times. This paper concludes by highlighting the limitations to singular focus on sub-basins and tributaries, suggesting a balance between more intense cooperation and water control on tributaries and a loose overarching framework at the basin level. From monocentric ideal to polycentric pragmatism in the Syr Darya: searching for second best approaches
Kai Wegerich; Jusipbek Kazbekov; Jonathan Lautze; Alexander Platonov; Murat Yakubov
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 113 - 130
While best practice in water management typically calls for the use of a basin-level approach, specific guidance in the absence of basin-level management is fairly scant. This paper reviews the experience of the Syr Darya basin to identify insights related to second best practices for water management at scales below the basin level. This paper first presents the causes for the disintegration of river basin management within the Syr Darya, which include both changes in operation of the Toktogul reservoir and rising water demands due to shifts in agricultural production and land ownership. Focus is then devoted specifically to small transboundary tributaries, where bottom-up cooperation has continued or reemerged in recent times. This paper concludes by highlighting the limitations to singular focus on sub-basins and tributaries, suggesting a balance between more intense cooperation and water control on tributaries and a loose overarching framework at the basin level.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044669 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 113 - 130 Kai Wegerich; Jusipbek Kazbekov; Jonathan Lautze; Alexander Platonov; Murat Yakubov International Water Management Institute, Apt. 121, House 6, Osiyo Street, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan ' International Water Management Institute, Apt. 121, House 6, Osiyo Street, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan ' International Water Management Institute, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka ' International Water Management Institute, Apt. 121, House 6, Osiyo Street, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan ' International Water Management Institute, Apt. 121, House 6, Osiyo Street, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan Central Asia Syr Darya Shakhimardan and Khoja-Bakirgan River water resources transboundary tributaries monocentric polycentric water management international river basins cooperation. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 113 130 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44670 This paper analyses the current status of hydropower development in two major rivers basins in South Asia, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The total drainage area of the basins is about 1,660,000 km² shared by China, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. These two basins are blessed with ample water resources and huge hydropower potential. The abundant hydropower potential of these rivers basins is the key driving force behind the prospect of potential transboundary cooperation in the field of water and can help providing riparian countries with a safer energy future. Based on five years of research studies (2005-2010), this paper analyses the hydropower development plans and ambitions of riparian nations with special focus on China and India. The finding suggests that it is essential to develop an integrated hydropower development approach involving all riparian nations intended to foster regional development and overcome the prospect of severe conflict because of unilateral hydropower ambitions of China and India. The hydropower development cooperation among the riparian nations could also become the positive turning point in the integration of South and Southeast Asia. Hydropower ambitions of South Asian nations and China: Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers basins
Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 131 - 157
This paper analyses the current status of hydropower development in two major rivers basins in South Asia, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The total drainage area of the basins is about 1,660,000 km² shared by China, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. These two basins are blessed with ample water resources and huge hydropower potential. The abundant hydropower potential of these rivers basins is the key driving force behind the prospect of potential transboundary cooperation in the field of water and can help providing riparian countries with a safer energy future. Based on five years of research studies (2005-2010), this paper analyses the hydropower development plans and ambitions of riparian nations with special focus on China and India. The finding suggests that it is essential to develop an integrated hydropower development approach involving all riparian nations intended to foster regional development and overcome the prospect of severe conflict because of unilateral hydropower ambitions of China and India. The hydropower development cooperation among the riparian nations could also become the positive turning point in the integration of South and Southeast Asia.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044670 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 131 - 157 Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Espoo FIN-00076, Finland; Department of Geography, Cambridge University, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, England South Asia hydropower rivers basins Ganges Brahmaputra common water resources transboundary cooperation conflict China India Bhutan Nepal Bangladesh shared rivers riparian countries renewable energy regional development water wars. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 131 157 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44671 There are the issues of conflicts regarding water resources among the riparian countries. In this context, the Ganges River basin has been taken as a case study. Because of the unilateral withdrawal of Ganges water by India, Bangladesh is facing negatively induced socio-economic and environmental impacts. On the other hand, people from the affected area of Bangladesh crossing the porous border of India pose an issue of not less important than the problems caused in Bangladesh by the water diversion of Farakka barrage. This trans-boundary issue must be dealt with at the international forum or at the bilateral forum. Therefore, some recommendations have been presented at the end in order to resolve the conflict over this river basin. Ganges basin: an example of social conflicts regarding water resources especially in developing countries
Mohammad Zaved Kaiser Khan
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 158 - 172
There are the issues of conflicts regarding water resources among the riparian countries. In this context, the Ganges River basin has been taken as a case study. Because of the unilateral withdrawal of Ganges water by India, Bangladesh is facing negatively induced socio-economic and environmental impacts. On the other hand, people from the affected area of Bangladesh crossing the porous border of India pose an issue of not less important than the problems caused in Bangladesh by the water diversion of Farakka barrage. This trans-boundary issue must be dealt with at the international forum or at the bilateral forum. Therefore, some recommendations have been presented at the end in order to resolve the conflict over this river basin.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044671 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 158 - 172 Mohammad Zaved Kaiser Khan Design Circle-1, Bangladesh Water Development Board, 72, Green Road, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh conflict Ganges River international river basins Farakka barrage transboundary issues riparian countries Bangladesh India Nepal water wars water resources socio-economic impact environmental impact. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 158 172 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44672 The present contribution will argue that 'water wars' and 'water peace' are not objective 'facts' but narratives reflecting competing world views. The two narratives are lenses shedding different lights on the same phenomenon. In addition to the narratives underlying the water-peace debate a third narrative can be adduced, that has a different, critical perspective on water wars, that has a very different interpretation of water conflict, looking at how local forces express global hegemonic struggles. Each of these has a different and credible account on why there has been no violence between states, and the role of hegemons and regimes in this. This paper pays special attention to regime formation. While the neo-realist and liberal-institutionalist schools have seen a gradual approximation since the 1980s (the neo-neo-consensus) they have different views of international regime cooperation and its drivers, notably the stabilising role of hegemons. The third, critical narrative again revives a different, underexposed strand in regimes analysis. Since 'regimes begin at home' (Waterbury, 2002), this paper also looks at the internal dynamics in Egypt. Three lenses on water war, peace and hegemonic struggle on the Nile
Jeroen Warner
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 173 - 193
The present contribution will argue that 'water wars' and 'water peace' are not objective 'facts' but narratives reflecting competing world views. The two narratives are lenses shedding different lights on the same phenomenon. In addition to the narratives underlying the water-peace debate a third narrative can be adduced, that has a different, critical perspective on water wars, that has a very different interpretation of water conflict, looking at how local forces express global hegemonic struggles. Each of these has a different and credible account on why there has been no violence between states, and the role of hegemons and regimes in this. This paper pays special attention to regime formation. While the neo-realist and liberal-institutionalist schools have seen a gradual approximation since the 1980s (the neo-neo-consensus) they have different views of international regime cooperation and its drivers, notably the stabilising role of hegemons. The third, critical narrative again revives a different, underexposed strand in regimes analysis. Since 'regimes begin at home' (Waterbury, 2002), this paper also looks at the internal dynamics in Egypt.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044672 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 173 - 193 Jeroen Warner Social Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6706 KN, The Netherlands Egypt hydropolitics narratives water wars water peace hegemony regimes water resources conflict regime formation international cooperation. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 173 193 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44673 This paper focuses on evaluating the operations efficiency of paper mills located on the banks of Huai River in China using data envelopment analysis (DEA). We divide the outputs as desirable (good) and undesirable (bad) outputs and consider them simultaneously. In this manner, we expect to identify the environmental characteristics of efficiency evaluation problem with undesirable outputs. Different from conventional DEA models, a novel model is constructed in this paper to evaluate the performance of decision-making units (DMUs) from both sides of desirable and undesirable outputs. Based on the proposed model, some managerial suggestions for the poorly performing DMUs to improve their efficiency are given. Finally, a practical application on the efficiency evaluation on 31 paper mills is conducted to illustrate the proposed model. A DEA model for efficiency evaluation with undesirable output: an application of paper mills along Huai River
Jie Wu; Hong Yan; Zhixiang Zhou; Liang Liang
International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 194 - 207
This paper focuses on evaluating the operations efficiency of paper mills located on the banks of Huai River in China using data envelopment analysis (DEA). We divide the outputs as desirable (good) and undesirable (bad) outputs and consider them simultaneously. In this manner, we expect to identify the environmental characteristics of efficiency evaluation problem with undesirable outputs. Different from conventional DEA models, a novel model is constructed in this paper to evaluate the performance of decision-making units (DMUs) from both sides of desirable and undesirable outputs. Based on the proposed model, some managerial suggestions for the poorly performing DMUs to improve their efficiency are given. Finally, a practical application on the efficiency evaluation on 31 paper mills is conducted to illustrate the proposed model.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSOC.2012.044673 International Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 4, No. 1/2 (2012) pp. 194 - 207 Jie Wu; Hong Yan; Zhixiang Zhou; Liang Liang School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, He Fei, An Hui Province 230026, China ' Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong ' School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, He Fei, An Hui Province 230026, China ' School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, He Fei, An Hui Province 230026, China DEA data envelopment analysis operational efficiency undesirable output paper mills Huai River China decision making units DMUs efficiency evaluation environmental impact. 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00 4 1/2 194 207 2012-01-01T23:20:50-05:00