Engineering Cooperation?: The Contribution of Water Experts in Promoting Water Cooperation in the Mountain Aquifer (Israel – Palestine) and in the Rhine River Basin

摘要: Introduction Different water resources are shared among neighbouring nations worldwide, as does not recognize any (political) boundaries. This fact has led to conflict and cooperation between states over the management of such resources. To manage these in a way that it prevents promotes cooperation, wide range expertise is required. It objective this study investigate possible contributions experts can bring promotion cooperation. These was achieved by combinations means literature interviews. Water identified causes resource be grouped into two dimension, drivers indicators. Drivers events generate potential conflict. While indicators factors strongly-influence whether will become an actual conflict, or even Results contribute influencing diminish, even, counteract conflicts generated drivers. Also, they create more cooperative include: • open maintain communication lines; raise public awareness; build confidence; exchange jointly collect data; develop propose solution; Act independent party; Capacity building; inform decision makers. In order for effectively impact indicators, need overcome barriers may dampen positive impacts their contributions, cause counterproductive impacts. Such obstacles from ones inevitable, attached complex nature beyond experts’ grasp, those avoidable. Some are: Insensitivity political social context; Inter-disciplinary inter-level communication; analysis method; Credibility experts. Conclusions recommendations recommended stay modest, closely collaborate with other fields give extra effort on understanding local public, makers non-technical aspect issue. By doing so (technical) solution acceptable parties. enable see involvement lead equal (and desirable) all riparians. Finally, universities, preparer future experts, try make students realize ethically involved transboundary management, promote having technical knowledge enough. Further, universities also advised provide supporting training upon request