Abstract
In the article, the authors consider the evolution of the concept of “preventive diplomacy”. The history of the origin of the term, as well as its conceptual foundations and significance in solving water factor issues in regional and international relations. In the course of the study, the authors concluded that the term water diplomacy refers to bilateral or multilateral negotiations concerning water issues, and the peaceful settlement of differences between riparian countries. Naturally, the globalization processes taking place all over the world have contributed and complicated solutions to water-related problems, thereby influencing the expansion of the concept of water diplomacy. This is because new players have appeared in this process, such as third countries and international organizations. Water diplomacy is characterized by processes where all interested participants, state, regional and international, cooperate to solve water problems. However, there is no general definition of water diplomacy, and the actual actions of water diplomacy, as a rule, differ in several directions and scales. Based on the review of academic and political documents by B. Boutros-Ghali, Johan Galtung, and T. Naff, the variety of understandings and common models in the definition of water diplomacy is analyzed.