(De)constructing meanings and pathways of water and peace

Water as an entry point for peace is increasingly highlighted in global policy discourse; however, the scientific evidence supporting this connection has not been systematically established or explored, in contrast to the extensive literature on water and conflict. This systematic review examines the literature on the relationship between water and peace from 2015 to 2022, utilizing the ROSES methodology for systematic reviews. Our findings indicate that while conceptual advances and empirical evidence demonstrate that water can serve as a vector for broader peace, this knowledge is dispersed across various epistemic communities, hindering the systematic accumulation of insights. To address this fragmentation, we unpack the different meanings of and linkages between water and peace and identify seven water-to-peace ‘pathways’ from an inductive analysis of the literature. We propose that the pathways can provide structure and shared language for future research on water and peace, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and enhancing understanding of this critical relationship. • Systematic review of the links between water and peace from 2015 to 2022. • Analyzes literature by geography, scale, and involved actors. • Explores diverse connotations of "peace" in relation to water studies. • Identifies seven water-to-peace pathways for structuring future research on water and peace. • Calls for more critical hydro-politics approaches on water for peace addressing power and scale.