Аннотации:
Water is the source of life on Earth and a fundamental resource
that plays a crucial role in environmental, economic, societal, and securityrelated issues. It is one of the key factors determining the stability of any
state. The concept of hydro-hegemony, as used by the authors, highlights
the hydropolitical dimensions of the issue and the ecological vulnerability
of the Irtysh River, which flows through China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
The geographical positioning of the Irtysh River, with its source in China,
allows the upstream country to control water intake levels, potentially
disadvantaging the downstream nations, Kazakhstan and Russia. The
ecosystem of Kazakhstan's Irtysh and Ili river basins is highly dependent
on China’s hydropolitical strategies, as a network of lakes-including
Alakol, Zaisan, and Balkhash – as well as artificial reservoirs fed by these
rivers, are at environmental risk. The aim of this research is to assess the
impact of hydro-hegemony on the ecological status of the Irtysh River and
the potential consequences for Kazakhstan. China's expanding agricultural
policies, which include the expansion of cultivated areas and the
construction of large-scale dams and reservoirs, have increased water
withdrawals from rivers that flow into Kazakhstan. An analytical review of
the available materials indicates that China is actively developing
environmentally sustainable water management technologies, whereas
Kazakhstan continues to experience water pollution from industrial
enterprises, posing a potential threat to the river ecosystem.
