The Evolution of Water Law Through 4,000 Years

Forthcoming book "Sovereignty and the Development of International Water Law"

Villanova Law/Public Policy Research Paper No. 2013-3041

25 Pages Posted: 15 May 2013

See all articles by Joseph W. Dellapenna

Joseph W. Dellapenna

Independent

Joyeeta Gupta

Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands)

Date Written: Spring 2013

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of global trends in water law through history. It begins with a brief examination of the idea of "law," and follows with a description of the earliest recorded forms of water law. Water law through the centuries has conformed to a limited set of patterns, in part as a response to the characteristics of the resource and in part because of the migration of water law systems from society to society and continent to continent. The chapter then summarily traces the evolution and characteristics of national, supranational, and international water law, how they are related, and where they might be headed. This provides a grounding for other chapters focusing on particular aspects of the history of sovereignty and water law.

Keywords: ancient law, colonialism, environmentalism, epistemic communities, global empires, international law, law, legal pluralism, social change, sovereignty, water history, water law

Suggested Citation

Dellapenna, Joseph W. and Gupta, Joyeeta, The Evolution of Water Law Through 4,000 Years (Spring 2013). Forthcoming book "Sovereignty and the Development of International Water Law", Villanova Law/Public Policy Research Paper No. 2013-3041, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2265029

Joseph W. Dellapenna (Contact Author)

Independent ( email )

212 St. George's Road
Ardmore, PA 19003
United States
6102209685 (Phone)

Joyeeta Gupta

Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) ( email )

Spui 21
Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
419
Abstract Views
2,095
Rank
127,578
PlumX Metrics