Since the independence of the Central Asian countries from the Soviet Union, water scarcity has led to water conflicts. The implementation of multiple agreements and cooperations between the countries was one instrument to reduce conflicts. The water conflicts led to a necessity to reduce internal and external tensions over water distribution. Thus, international agreement and domestic policy change need to be implemented. The current literature focuses on water conflicts and policies mostly in European and African regions, leaving out Central Asia, where climate change will further increase water scarcity. The paper’s main research question is whether conflict over scarce water resources led to a change in domestic water and environmental policies, in particular an increase in progressive water policies and environmental policies regarding water and ecosystem conservation in Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The paper will exclude Afghanistan from the case due to the unstable political situation. The paper will use a mixed-methods approach, drawing on quantitative data on water scarcity, water conflict and water management systems and qualitative data on water and environmental protection policies regarding water and ecosystem conservation. The expected results are that the link between water conflict and progressive water policies is stronger in downstream countries than in upstream countries. Additionally, the link between water conflict and environmental protection is expected to be similar for upstream and downstream countries because all countries have an incentive to increase natural water storage.

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water policy,environmental policy,water conflict,water scarcity,East Asia