Egemenlik Sonrası Türkistan’da Su Kaynakları Yönetimi: Gelişim, Sorunlar ve Çatışmalar

This article examines the transformations in water resource management in Turkistan following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Newly independent states such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have faced significant political, economic, and social challenges in managing and sharing water resources. Water resources are vital for these countries’ agriculture, energy production, and drinking water needs. Regional water management policies deeply influence both national sustainable development goals and relations with neighboring countries. The article focuses particularly on transboundary water management, analyzing the dynamics of cooperation and conflict in this area. The management of water resources in strategic regions such as the Fergana Valley and the Amuderya and Syrderya river basins heightens interstate tensions and threatens regional stability. In this context, the study also examines the water policies of the countries involved, as well as the mediation efforts of international organizations and regional cooperation initiatives. This work aims to address existing gaps in the academic literature on water management and contribute to the development of a sustainable water management model among the countries of the region. Furthermore, it seeks to provide policymakers with guidance on water resource management. The article is based on a qualitative research methodology, utilizing academic studies, official documents, and statistical data. It evaluates theoretical frameworks in an applied context through concrete examples of water sharing in strategic regions, such as the Fergana Valley and the Amuderya and Syrderya river basins. The findings highlight that post-independence water resource management in Turkistan requires a complex balance between national development goals and efforts to ensure regional stability and emphasize that a sustainable management model is achievable only through enhanced regional cooperation and increased international support.