Hydro-Hegemony, Counter-Hegemony and Neoclassical Realism on the Nile Basin: An Analysis of Egypt’s Response to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

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İlkbahar H., MERCAN M. H.

Journal of Asian and African Studies, vol.60, no.2, pp.1158-1173, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)

• Publication Type: Article / Article
• Volume: 60 Issue: 2
• Publication Date: 2025
• Doi Number: 10.1177/00219096231188953
• Journal Name: Journal of Asian and African Studies
• Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, American History and Life, Anthropological Literature, ATLA Religion Database, Geobase, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
• Page Numbers: pp.1158-1173
• Keywords: counter-hegemony, Egypt, Ethiopia, neoclassical realism, Nile Basin, The Framework of Hydro-Hegemony
• Marmara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The Framework of Hydro-Hegemony (FHH) has been applied several times to transboundary water disputes. Since it defines Egypt as a hegemon and Ethiopia as a counter-hegemon, many studies have focused on the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic activities in the Nile Basin. However, this article argues that Egypt has also deployed counter-hegemonic tactics to deal with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) from Neoclassical Realist perspective. In this context, it questions why and how Egypt has deployed hegemonic and counter-hegemonic tactics to respond to the GERD through process-tracing and utilising primary and secondary sources such as official statements, books, articles and journals.