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Abstract

The Fergana Valley is considered a hotspot for water conflicts – not only within Central Asia but also at the level of global politics. By using the water of the Syr-Darya river and its tributaries, an enormous irrigation system was built up in the Fergana region – a valley formerly characterised by deserts and river oases. This led to the creation of one of the largest cotton growing regions in the world. At present, the system supplies one of the most densely populated regions in Central Asia with water. Huge dam cascades also produce a significant amount of electricity. This has led to disagreements and conflicting interests between upstream and downstream countries. Experiences in many parts of the world have shown that a purely technical approach to solving waterrelated problems has not always brought about the desired results. In many cases, it even had negative implications for society and environment. Therefore, improved management strategies and integrated policies are needed for dissolving the existing “path dependencies” that limit the range of development options and confine the scope of action available to the Fergana region. The interdisciplinary research group “Society – Water – Technology” at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities has dedicated itself to this issue and aims at providing scientific policy advice to decision-makers and stakeholders.