ideal river: how control of nature shaped the international order.

The main focus of the article is the examination of historical efforts to govern transboundary river resources, particularly through the lens of Joanne Yao's book, which analyzes the establishment of international commissions for the Rhine, Danube, and Congo rivers in the nineteenth century. The book argues that the ambitions to control nature through science and engineering shaped key concepts in International Relations (IR), such as territorial sovereignty and international organization, contributing to a Eurocentric world order. Yao's research highlights the implications of these historical developments for contemporary politics, particularly in the context of environmental governance and hydro-diplomacy. The analysis underscores the importance of understanding the relationship between society and nature in international politics, while also suggesting areas for further exploration regarding water management issues. [Extracted from the article]