Implementing Transboundary Water Agreements, by Alistair Rieu-Clarke, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, UK, 2025, 348 pp., £115.00 (hardback), ISBN: 978-1-03533-726-2.

Water is essential to life.It is called "blue gold", in the same way that oil is called "black gold", because it creates wealth, drives the economy, and sustains life.It bears this name because it is equally precious and of rare value, yet unlike oil, which has alternativessometimes even better and widely encouragedwater has none.Water is a vital and irreplaceable resource, more precious than we realize.From afar, it seems abundant, since more than 71% of the globe is covered by water, but that is misleading: only a small percentage (less than 3%) is suitable for use, and of that small portion, barely 0.06% is directly accessible [1].The usable share of water follows defined paths and remains tied to specific territories.Water sustains all forms of life; it is a cornerstone of health and security, which makes it vulnerable to being captured, retained, or appropriated.When it is not shared in a fair and equitable manner, when its use neglects principles and values, it can turn into an instrument of power, a tool of domination, and a cause of conflict or instability.It may even change from a source of life into a reason for killing.Today, more than 40% of the global population depends on transboundary water resources.Implementing Transboundary Water Agreements stands as a reassuring safeguard for these populations.Rieu-Clarke writes to convey one clear, strong, and unambiguous message: "When you cut water, you cut peace."It is essential to raise awareness and to alert those who cross the limits in governing this shared vital resourcethose who believe they can control or appropriate water at the expense of others.Yes, more than three hundred rivers cross national borders across the world, including those between Iraq and Iran, and Turkey and Iraq.Implementing Transboundary Water Agreements is significant because it presents solutions for managing potential geopolitical tensions over water and provides conflict-resolution tools that support the collective governance of this vital resource.