Water power: the domestic and geostrategic dimensions of Turkey's GAP Project. Issue 5 (3rd September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ozkahraman, Cemal
• Is Part Of: Conflict, security & development. Volume 17:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 411
• Page End: 428
• Publication Date: 2017-09-03
• Subjects: GAP -- socio-economics -- Kurdish question -- hydro-politics -- geostrategy; Security, International -- Periodicals; Pacific settlement of international disputes -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Periodicals; World politics -- 1989- -- Periodicals; 322.5
• DOI: 10.1080/14678802.2017.1371988
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-8802

Abstract

Abstract: The Southeastern Anatolia Project (Güneydogu Anadolu Projesi, GAP), which was designed for the socio-economic development of south-east Turkey, has multiple political and strategic dimensions. While GAP was intended to narrow the socio-economic gap between the south-east and the rest of Turkey through development of the region, and to secure Turkey's future energy needs, the associated hydro-politics intertwine domestic and geopolitics in relation to water flow to downstream riparian states Syria and Iraq, securing Turkey a geostrategic position in the broader Middle Eastern context in terms of regional hydro-hegemony, while also impacting on relations with Kurds at home and in surrounding states.