MEKONG-GANGA DIALOGUE - Observer Research Foundation

educing the level of obsession with large media may be the right direction to
influence inclusive decision-making processes.
Mapping a trend line of attitudes towards water management is required to
understand the socio-cultural temperature of the evolving societies and their
changing concerns. Unless, that is identified and known, not much progress
can be made towards sustainable water management.
2.6 COOPERATION TRACKS
Cooperation tracks in Asia have a mixed record of influencing either policy at the
level of governments or at that of mass public opinion. On some issues, positions
are polarized while there are issues not even on the discourse map. In the
context of the Mekong-Ganga Dialogue, a question that needs to be addressed
is: how can countries that share rivers (i.e. transboundary waters) come to a
mutual understanding of their respective interests? The session set to explore
the various definitions of ‘boundaries’ and its characteristic pronouncements
implicating the future relationships and cooperation efforts. Key points
discussed, included:
The agreed idea of ‘boundaries’ is that it is not just physical or political or
administrative but is a notion that incorporates all of the above. It also
includes the idea that there are disciplinary boundaries (i.e. beyond the
current over-emphasis on civil engineering and neo-liberal economics that
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