Water is a strategic natural resource of vital importance to all nations. As such it has been the cause of several international disputes. For Turkey especially, water is crucial to social and economic development. Turkey's current national water regime that emphasises water resources development and management for productive uses, however, faces growing environmental concerns and international criticism regarding transboundary water cooperation. Furthermore, EU accession requires Turkey to adopt an extensive and ambitious body of EU water law.  To understand Turkey's position to international water law, the national policies and socio-economic circumstances that impact water resources management need to be considered. This book fills the existing knowledge gap through a broad perspective and analysis of the current state of Turkey's water policy and its management of both national and transboundary waters. It is a unique undertaking that brings together Turkish and international authors, practitioners and academics, covering all aspects of water management.

Part I. National framework. - 1. Turkey's water policy framework.- 2. Strategic role of water resources for Turkey.- 3. Challenges for Turkey to implement the EU water framework directive.- 4. Water for energy: Hydropower is vital for Turkey.- 5. Liberalization of Turkey's hydroelectricity sector: Insitutional changes and the private companies.- 6. Water for agriculture: A major and inefficient consumer.- 7.Turkey's policy for combatting water pollution.- 8. Environmental impact assessment in Turkish dam planning.- 9. The role of NGOs in promoting integrated river basin management in Turkey:- A case study of the Konya Closed Basin.- Part II. International cooperation on Turkey's transboundary rovers.- 10. The water dimension in turkish foreign policy.- 11. Turkey's water diplomacy: A theoretical discussion.- 12. Turkey's position towards international water law.- 13. Meric river basin: Transboundary water cooperation at the border between the EU and Turkey.- 14. Coruh river basin: Hydropower development and transboundary cooperation.- 15. Kura-Aras river basin: Burgeoning transboundary water issues.- 16. Euphrates-Tigris river system: Political rapprochement and transboundary water cooperation. 17. Orontes river basin: Downstream challenges and prospects for cooperation.- 18. Conclusion Part II: Cooperation on Turkey's transboundary waters: Analysis and recommendations.