Global Warming and a Comparative Study of Water Governance in Iran and Turkey

Mirtorabi, Saeed; Mirtorabi, Mahak; Sariaslani, Mahtab

doi:10.22126/mps.2026.12820.1096

Global Warming and a Comparative Study of Water Governance in Iran and Turkey

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of International Relations,, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding author).

² LL.M. in Private Law, Farabi Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ M.A. in Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22126/mps.2026.12820.1096

Abstract

Both neighboring countries, Iran and Turkey, have faced serious crises in recent years regarding global warming and the scarcity of available water resources. They have taken measures to manage the crisis and ensure sustainable access to their water resources. Previous discussions and studies in Persian and English sources have primarily focused on the impact of water issues on bilateral relations or examined water governance structures separately in each country. However, the present article attempts, for the first time, to comparatively analyze the responses of both countries to the water crisis. The article aims to systematically examine the effects of global warming on water resources in Iran and Turkey, evaluating the governance frameworks, policy responses, and their effectiveness in both countries. The main question addressed is: How can water resource governance in Iran and Turkey from 2014 to 2024 be compared in terms of institutional governance and the effectiveness of adopted policies? The hypothesis, investigated through descriptive and analytical methods, posits that "institutional water governance in Iran from 2014 to 2024 has primarily focused on supply-side management in a centralized manner, leading to short-term and unsustainable relief measures in the face of water crises. In contrast, during the same period, Turkey has shifted toward participatory and demand-side management, achieving local advancements in water management." The findings highlight shared vulnerabilities, differing governance capacities, and the need for integrated water resource management strategies under climate uncertainty in both countries.

Keywords

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