Contemporary criminological discourses identify the emerging phenomena of water theft in societies experiencing drought and water insecurity (Brisman et al. 2018). Such analyses point to policies of privatization, to the marketization and commodification of freshwater, and to state politics premised on trade and fiscal prosperity. Notwithstanding the relevance of such debates, this article demonstrates that water theft and regulations prohibiting and punishing such offenses are indeed not new. Throughout history, various civilizations and societies have created and administered laws to protect freshwater and to punish and prevent water theft. This article seeks to contribute to contemporary criminological discourses by identifying and analyzing the laws and regulations of water theft within select ancient civilizations. Such analyses provide insights at both a conceptual and practical level. Such past examples of water management, non-compliance and sanction provide useful insights into contemporary acts of water theft, water justice, and the future governance of life’s most essential resource.

中文翻译：

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历代偷水：绿色犯罪学的见解

当代犯罪学论述确定了在经历干旱和水不安全的社会中出现的偷水现象（Brisman 等人，2018 年）。这些分析指向私有化政策、淡水的市场化和商品化，以及以贸易和财政繁荣为前提的国家政治。尽管此类辩论具有相关性，但本文表明盗窃水以及禁止和惩罚此类犯罪的法规确实并不新鲜。纵观历史，各种文明和社会都制定和实施了保护淡水、惩罚和防止偷水的法律。本文旨在通过识别和分析特定古代文明中盗水的法律法规，为当代犯罪学话语做出贡献。此类分析提供了概念和实践层面的见解。这些过去的水资源管理、违规和制裁的例子为当代盗水行为、水资源正义以及未来对生命最重要资源的治理提供了有用的见解。