When the Well Is Dry: How Water Fuels Violence and Shapes Peace

The first major water war erupted around 2500 BCE, when the Sumerian city-states of Lagash and Umma fought for a century over irrigation canals from the Tigris River. A few thousand years later, both Athenians and then Spartans were accused of poisoning the water supply of their enemies, in pursuit of victory. From the ancient Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian empires to the present day, access to and control over freshwater has been entwined with human conflict, violence, and war. As a fundamental resource for survival, ecosystems, and the stability of civilizations, water and its scarcity or intentional manipulation have long played a pivotal role in power struggles and geopolitical tensions.

In When the Well Is Dry, MacArthur Fellow and world-renowned water expert Peter Gleick traces the history of water and violence, weaving together historical accounts, personal reflections, and analysis. Spanning over four thousand years, the book examines how water has shaped conflicts, from ancient civilizations to contemporary crises, such as Syria’s civil war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as detailing the evolution of modern environmental security studies.

When the Well Is Dry highlights the dangers of water-driven violence but also offers comprehensive recommendations for reducing such conflicts, paving a new path toward cooperation over water and strategies for a sustainable future.