Stefan DeconinckPolResearch
Stefan Deconinck
Ma. in International Relations
Researcher, analyst.
Fields of interest: environmental security, political hydrology, geopolitics of water scarcity.
About
14
Publications
2,915
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
14
Citations
Introduction
Political Hydrologist · Historian · Analyst
Based in Amman, Jordan, I am a consultant with experience in policy-oriented research, analysis, training.
Fields of interest: geopolitics, water diplomacy, environmental security and 'water conflicts' · politics and security in Eastern Africa and the Middle East · terrorism, radicalisation and de-radicalisation · (maritime) history of the Indian Ocean
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deconinck/
Additional affiliations
October 2020 - December 2022
Join For Water
Position
- Policy advisor
Description
- Expert water resources protection: defining the strategy on ecosystems protection Policy advisor on mapping landscape of Belgian water actors; policy options on organising participation; access to new funding Grant manager: donor intelligence, strategic donor communication, grant application
January 2011 - February 2023
PolResearch
Position
- Consultant
Description
- Based in Nairobi (Kenya) 2012-2017, Kampala (Uganda) 2017-2020, Amman (Jordan) from 2020. Political risk analysis: environmental change and security, regional conflicts, domestic politics - Eastern Africa, Middle East. Research on the geopolitics of water scarcity.
November 2007 - December 2011
Royal Higher Institute for Defense
Position
- Research Associate
Description
- Analysis of international political, military, technological, socio-economic, ideological and other trends that can have an impact on the rise, the development and the consequences of violent conflicts. Themes: Global jihad, Somali piracy, climate change and environmental security, Resolution 1325. Policy advice; organisation of workshops and conferences
Education
October 1992 - June 1996
October 1988 - August 1992
Publications
Publications (14)
The hydrological cycle (or the natural water cycle) is often considered to be a rather simple story about water evaporating from the ocean, rain falling on land and rivers taking the water back to the ocean.
But it is not. The water cycle is a more complex system and proper understanding of these complexities is essential to understand the challeng...
Dit artikel belicht een aantal aspecten van de conflicten waarin de Kenianen momenteel zijn
verwikkeld: de Keniaanse interventie in Somalië, de 'oorlog tegen terrorisme' tegen de
militante islamistische groepering Al Shabaab en de gevolgen ervan voor de relaties tussen de Keniaanse overheid en de moslimbevolking.
"Water conflicts" became a focus of attention in the 1990's, when environmental problems like water scarcity were expected to add to already sensitive geopolitical contexts in areas like the Middle East or Central Asia. As a result, water resources became a security concern, with corresponding policies of securitizing the solution to the problem of...
Momenteel draait de Somalische piraterij op volle toeren. In deze studie worden de elementen gesitueerd die hebben bijgedragen aan de opkomst van de Somalische piraterij en de voortdurende aanpassing aan wijzigende omstandigheden die het zo succesvol maken.
Tevens wordt ingegaan op het belang van de Somalische piraterij als bedreiging van de intern...
In the European and Belgian policy documents concerning adaptation to climate change, ‘security’ is approached in the first place from a non-military perspective. In line with that
position and to prevent adding to the securitization of the issue of adaptation to climate change, in my recommendations I will not argue to extend the role of the Belgi...
De “oorlog om water” is een fascinerend verhaal. Het beantwoordt aan een basisangst van de mens: in extreme omstandigheden zullen mensen vechten om het laatste restje water, om niet van ontbering om te komen.
Verschillende indicatoren vertellen ons dat de omstandigheden inderdaad extremer worden: watervoorraden slinken, de bevolking groeit, de alte...
The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at the reasons which lay behind the sensitive geopolitical context of the water of the Nile. It will situate the discourse on 'water wars' within the framework of securitization of water resources. This is further illustrated by the case of the Nile basin. Then we will explore the possibilities/necessi...
De global jihad is een radicale vorm van politieke Islam of islamisme. Kenmerkend is het gebruik van geweld als middel om hun doelstellingen te bereiken. Jihadisten verwijzen naar jihad zoals dat bestaat binnen het islamitische recht, als legitimatie voor dit geweld. Islam vormt zo een laagje religieuze glazuur over een in essentie politieke ideolo...
In this contribution, we will discuss developments in jihad ideology. First, we will take the reader on a journey back in time, to frame the origin of doctrines concerning jihad in classical Islam and the fundaments of Islamic law. Then, we will focus on the emergence of political Islam, its radicalisation and the new doctrines on jihad that it bro...
In August 2000, the Israeli government approved a long-term water policy document proposed by the Water Commissioner. The plan outlines the general framework for a water policy towards 2020. Within this period of time, Israel faces the challenge to cope with increasing water scarcity, as a result of the limited availability of natural water resourc...
In this contribution, we connect internal and external water policies in Israel with issues that are related to the security of the state of Israel. For the case of external water policies, this connection seems obvious given the fact that water is a scarce resource and partly shared with hostile neighbouring countries. But at the same time, water...
Pendant que nous rédigions la présente contribution et que les feux de la rampe éclairaient la guerre de l'armée israélienne contre les populations palestiniennes sévissant toujours en pleine violence, une situation extrêmement aigue de manque d'eau menaçait la région comme les années précédentes.
Questions
Question (1)
According to the 2012 OECD report "Environmental outlook to 2050. The consequences of inaction", the global share of water withdrawal for irrigation in 2050 was expected to drop to about 37.5% of the total withdrawal (from about 67% in 2000). Also in absolute figures, irrigation water withdrawal would drop by 14% (5% in lower income countries).
Such concrete figures do not appear in other global reports (FAO, World Water Development Reports). Any ideas where I may find reliable updates for the prospects towards 2050?
