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Abstract
Despite the diversity of the contributions to the analysis of water resources and the myriad of water management experiences, transboundary groundwaters have only relatively recently entered the international political agenda. In line with research dedicated to understanding the challenges associated with the management of water resources and the creation of environmental regulatory frameworks, this dissertation examines the emergence of mechanisms for the management of transboundary groundwater resources. In doing so, it makes a seemingly straightforward inquiry. What are the factors that trigger the emergence and implementation of groundwater management mechanisms? Drawing from the review of the literature and the comparative analysis of three cases of transboundary groundwater management, this research finds that the recognition of groundwater problems is determined by the interplay of three factors: the uses of groundwater, the features of the hydrogeological resources, and the social valuation of the ecosystem services provided by the resources. In addition, it suggests that groundwater problems are not sufficient to explain the nature of the mechanisms employed for the management of the resources. It argues that management mechanisms, which may be coordinated or unilateral, result from the configuration of both systemic and socio-institutional factors.
