Mekong River Politics and Environmental Security

　

Peter Stoett

　

Abstract

　

        Many countries face serious challenges related to the resources they share with neighbours. This is often the case with states who share rivers susceptible to upstream development initiatives that can result in serious ecological consequences. Power relations between countries, and the advantages of upstream states, often define the issue. The Mekong River in Southeast Asia provides such an example. [Q3]as downstream states deal with China’s construction of dams on the river’s upper reaches. In Chapter 11, Peter Stoett examines the national, human and environmental security aspects of international efforts to manage the Mekong River. Stoett describes the current situation within and among countries along the Mekong’s course, highlighting the foreign policy dilemmas raised by disputes over the river and its resources. In the view of Stoett, human security must be considered alongside, or even above, national security. He argues that scholars should look more carefully at the impact of environmental alterations on the people who rely on rivers for their well-being and who are often marginalized in decision-making processes related to river management.