Southeast Asia and Bangladesh are at present global hot-spots of pirate attacks on merchant vessels and fishing boats. This thesis explains why, and in what form, piracy still exists. It will argue that an examination of contemporary piracy is important because it can be understood as both a symptom and a reflection of a range of geo-political and socio-economic problems and security concerns. The thesis examines pirate attacks on small craft, including fishing boats, and merchant vessels in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh between 1992 and 2006. It describes the different types of contemporary pirate attacks, identifies piracy hot-spots, and looks at the various kinds of pirates active in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh. Furthermore, it discusses a number of factors which have contributed to the shaping of modern day piracy in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh. Issues examined in this regard include the impact of ecological degradation and over-fishing on the occurrence of piracy; loop-holes and shortcomings in maritime laws and regulations that are conducive to the operations of pirates; the involvement of transnational crime syndicates and radical politically motivated groups in piracy; and the problems with state and private responses to pirate attacks. It will be argued that the examination of these factors reveals not only how they shape piracy, but that they also have an impact upon security well beyond pirate attacks. Examining piracy in this way is akin to looking through a prism, allowing a critical gaze to be cast over a range of political, social, and ecological developments, as well as security risks, and their impact on the lives and circumstances of people in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, and the wider international community. It will be suggested that piracy and the various responses to it both reflect political and social developments within countries, and co-operation, tension and friction between states. Additionally, it will be demonstrated that the occurrence of pirate attacks in a region or a country indicates the existence of a wide range of traditional and non-traditional security risks, which can have far reaching repercussions for individuals, nations, or the international community. Through the examination of piracy in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh, and the responses it triggers, important new trends and practices in the security sector are also identified, including the increasing privatisation of security and protection services around the globe.

Southeast Asia and Bangladesh are at present global hot-spots of pirate attacks on merchant vessels and fishing boats. This thesis explains why, and in what form, piracy still exists. It will argue that an examination of contemporary piracy is important because it can be understood as both a symptom and a reflection of a range of geo-political and socio-economic problems and security concerns. The thesis examines pirate attacks on small craft, including fishing boats, and merchant vessels in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh between 1992 and 2006. It describes the different types of contemporary pirate attacks, identifies piracy hot-spots, and looks at the various kinds of pirates active in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh. Furthermore, it discusses a number of factors which have contributed to the shaping of modern day piracy in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh. Issues examined in this regard include the impact of ecological degradation and over-fishing on the occurrence of piracy; loop-holes and shortcomings in maritime laws and regulations that are conducive to the operations of pirates; the involvement of transnational crime syndicates and radical politically motivated groups in piracy; and the problems with state and private responses to pirate attacks. It will be argued that the examination of these factors reveals not only how they shape piracy, but that they also have an impact upon security well beyond pirate attacks. Examining piracy in this way is akin to looking through a prism, allowing a critical gaze to be cast over a range of political, social, and ecological developments, as well as security risks, and their impact on the lives and circumstances of people in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, and the wider international community. It will be suggested that piracy and the various responses to it both reflect political and social developments within countries, and co-operation, tension and friction between states. Additionally, it will be demonstrated that the occurrence of pirate attacks in a region or a country indicates the existence of a wide range of traditional and non-traditional security risks, which can have far reaching repercussions for individuals, nations, or the international community. Through the examination of piracy in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh, and the responses it triggers, important new trends and practices in the security sector are also identified, including the increasing privatisation of security and protection services around the globe.

The thesis deals with the contemporary problem of Somali maritime hijackings from the European Union perspective. First, it presents the problem per se while focusing on the framework in which the piracy issue is being solved. Second, it analyses the role of the post-Lisbon European Union in international crisis management. Taking EU's first naval military mission EU NAVFOR Somalia "Atalanta" as a case study, the paper essentially aims at shedding some light on the current state of the European Union's recognition as a major actor in international politics. Based on the Somali piracy case study, the text contributes to the theoretical debate about EU actorness.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study concerned the piratical attacks occurring along the East and West coasts of Africa. Although maritime piracy along the coasts of Africa is not a new phenomenon, recent upsurges in piratical attacks have attracted a great deal of attention. Despite Nigeria being long considered as the hotspot for piratical activity in Africa, the greatest upsurge of piratical activity has been seen in the areas surrounding Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The primary objective of this study is to identify the main causes of maritime piracy in Somalia and Nigeria. Also the correlation between state capacity (failed or weak) and the motivations for piracy (greed or grievance) is investigated. The secondary objectives of this study are to investigate the direct manifestations of piracy, as well as the current counter piracy initiatives. This is done in order to evaluate the successes and failures of current counter-piracy approaches in order to create more viable and successful counter measures. It is found that historical factors, as well as political, economic, social and environmental factors contribute greatly to the rise of maritime piracy in both Somalia and Nigeria. Furthermore, it has been found that there are numerous direct causes of piracy in these two countries. These differences and similarities have been investigated using a comparative analysis framework. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het betrekking tot die seerowery wat langs die Oos-en Weskus van Afrika plaasvind. Alhoewel seerowery langs die kus van Afrika nie 'n nuwe verskynsel is nie, het die onlangse oplewing van seerower-aanvalle baie aandag geniet in verskeie oorde. Ten spyte daarvan dat Nigerië lank beskou was as die probleem-area vir seerower aktiwiteit in Afrika, word die grootste toename van seerowery in die gebiede rondom Somalië, insluitend die Golf van Aden en die Indiese Oseaan ervaar. Die primêre doel van hierdie studie is om die oorsake van seerowery in Somalië en Nigerië te identifiseer. Die verband tussen staat-kapasiteit (mislukte of swak) en die motiverings vir seerowery (gierigheid of griewe) word ondersoek. Die sekondêre doelwitte van hierdie studie is om die direkte manifestasies van seerowery te ondersoek, sowel as die huidige teen-seerower inisiatiewe. Dit word gedoen om die suksesse en mislukkings van die huidige teen-seerower benaderings te evalueer ten einde meer lewensvatbare en suksesvolle teenmaatreels te skep. Dit is gevind dat historiese faktore, sowel as die politieke-, ekonomiese-, sosiale- en omgewings- faktore baie bydra tot die ontstaan en opbloei van seerowery in Somalië en Nigerië. Dit is gevind dat daar talle direkte oorsake van seerowery in hierdie twee lande is. Hierdie verskille en ooreenkomste is ondersoek met behulp van vergelykende analises.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Maritime piracy is not a new phenomenon. However, the nature, severity and impacts of contemporary piracy have evolved to become a highly-organised, professional and international scourge. This comparative and explanatory study set out to explore questions regarding the how and why of maritime piracy trends in Somali and Southeast Asian waters. This study sought to (a) conceptualise an appropriate definition of maritime piracy; (b) determine the causes and motivations for piracy in these regions; (c) offer insights as to the most effective ways of combating piracy; (d) investigate the various impacts and effects of piracy; and (e) discussing the significance of international responses to this phenomenon. In pursuing the above-mentioned goals this study offered a comparison of correlating trends and differences between these two regions. This study attributed the underlying motivations to two chief factors: namely, state failure and instability, as well as socio-economic factors. These two factors, along with several additional contributing factors, effectively established piracy’s main causes. The general findings of this study concluded that contemporary piracy cannot be understood without a thorough understanding of a combination of various factors. It was also argued that although the alleged link between piracy and terrorism remains speculative, piracy could have the ability to facilitate international terrorism. The nature of contemporary piracy in Somalia and Southeast Asia was examined, as well as a discussion of the most significant pirate attacks in these regions. This study established that the nature of Somali and Southeast Asian piracy display various similarities, as well as differences. Together with explanations accounting for decreases and increases in pirate attacks, it emerged that an increase in violence and sophistication of piracy is apparent. By highlighting how contemporary piracy has become both a regional and international security threat, this study brought forward arguments that showed how piracy negatively affects regional stability, as well as exacerbating poverty. Furthermore, this study found that the impacts of piracy are far-reaching and therefore require international and regional collaborative responses. Regarding solutions to piracy, emphasis was placed on including domestic, regional and international approaches. Moreover, this study argued that overlooking the internal problems on-land only serve to worsen the piracy situation in Somalia and Southeast Asia. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Seerowery is nie ‘n nuwe fenomeen nie. Die aard, erns en impak van hedendaagse seerowery het wel in ’n hoogs-georganiseerde, professionele en internasionale plaag ontwikkel. Hierdie vergelykende en beskrywende studie poog om die vrae rondom hoe en hoekom seerowery in die Somaliese en Suidoos-Asiese waters plaasvind. Die doel van hierdie studie was, om: (a) seerowery te konseptualiseer, (b) die oorsake en motivering(s) vir seerowery in spesifieke streke te bestudeer; en (c) die internasionale reaksie tot hierdie verskynsel te bespreek. Met die doel om die bogenoemde vrae te beantwoord verskaf hierdie studie ’n vergelyking van ooreenkomstige tendense en verskille tussen die twee gebiede. Hierdie studie skryf die onderliggende motiverings toe aan twee hoof faktore: naamlik, staatsmislukking en –onstabiliteit, en tweedens sosio-ekonomiese faktore. Daar is ook ’n paar aanvullende bydraende faktore wat kortliks bespreek word. Hierdie studie bevind dat hedendaagse seerowery nie volledig verstaan kan word sonder ’n begrip van verskeie faktore, wat in hierdie studie beskryf word, nie. Hierdie studie bevind ook dat alhoewel die beweerde verband tussen seerowery en terrorisme onseker is, dat seerowery wel die potensiaal besit om internasionale terrorisme te fasiliteer. Die aard van hedendaagse seerowery in Somalië en Suidoos-Asië is ondersoek, tesame met ’n bespreking van die mees beduidende seerower aanvalle in die gebiede. Hierdie studie wys dat die aard van Somaliese en Suidoos-Asiese seerowery vele ooreenkomste sowel as verskille bevat. Tesame met verduidelikings oor die afname en toename in seerower aanvalle verskaf hierdie studie ook ’n beskrywing van die toename in die gesofistikeerdheid van die hedendaagse seerowers. Die studie het ook klem op die feit gelê dat hedendaagse seerowery beide ’n streeks- asook ’n internasionale sekuriteits gevaar is. Dus het seerowery ’n breë en vêrreikende impak, en vereis internasionale en streeklikse samewerking om teenkamping te loods. Daar word ook bevind dat ’n versuiming om na interne probleme in Somalië en Suidoos-Asië kan dien as ’n versterking tot die seerowery verskynsel.

This thesis examines the expansion of private maritime security provision, its regulation and implications for national and global security. The main research question addressed is: How are private maritime security companies (PMSCs) regulated in the context of the contemporary trend towards international security privatisation? However, further questions stem from this: Is the complex framework of the PMSCs’ business model adequately regulated? To what extent could the existing practices and regulatory framework affect international security in governance and policy, strategic, social and commercial terms? Qualitative research methods were used, strongly supported by empirical data collection – available due to extensive professional experience and personal engagement of the author with the private maritime security industry. Using a case study of PMSCs’ operations off Somalia from 2005-2013, and a plethora of selected data from primary sources and semi-structured interviews, the paper argues that there is need for more effective regulation of PMSCs and the establishment of international standards. Following an analysis of the current conceptual framework of private security, focussing particularly on maritime security, in the context of contemporary academic literature and professional practice, the paper provides a detailed theoretical justification for the selection of the methodology used. After broadening and deepening the analysis of the privatisation of security ashore, the concerns raised are then transferred to the maritime domain. The situation becomes even more complicated in the high seas due to inconsistencies between flag states’ regulations, the unregulated vastness of the oceans and the reluctance of any international body (such as the IMO) to undertake the essential task of regulating PMSCs. Building on this, an analytical framework that enables the integration of maritime security and contemporary piracy into the contemporary paradigm of global security is developed. An historical overview of piracy then demonstrates that modern piracy is an ancient phenomenon with contemporary local characteristics. The maritime crime’s causal factors remain more or less the same throughout human history and, the paper argues, PMSCs serve as a short term response to address the symptoms rather than the root causes. Given that PMSCs have so far been used primarily as measures against Somali piracy, activities in this specific region provide an appropriate case study. The development of a typology of piracy offers a deeper understanding of the regional distinctiveness of the phenomenon, which is essential to acquiring a holistic picture of the operational environment in which PMSCs are deployed. The above considerations are used as a basis for analysing the complexities of the PMSCs’ business model, in legal, operational and ethical terms. The questionable practices involved in these are not fully regulated by national states. Hence, their contract and deployment raise ethical, legal and operational concerns. In the penultimate chapter, these are further assessed in terms of the extent to which the existing regulatory framework and PMSCs’ practices affect international security in governance and policy, strategic, social and commercial terms. The research indicates that states are increasingly outsourcing the monopoly they have exercised in security provision - a trend that has also expanded the private sector’s activities and business at sea. However, the lack of international laws and the consequent unstandardized plethora of flag states’ regulations has meant that the burgeoning private security services are dependent on the global market to regulate themselves. States’ reluctance and/or inability to regulate these companies has allowed controversial practices to persist and the lack of an international body responsible for their regulation and vetting on a worldwide basis has inevitable consequences in terms of global security. The overall outcome of this thesis is an elucidation of the potential implications of the privatisation of maritime security - both positive and negative. Most significantly, it suggests this could present a significant threat to international security in the near future.

The past 20 years have witnessed a resurgence of maritime piracy, especially along the East and West coasts of Africa. Much scholarly research has been undertaken on this issue; however a consensus on the primary economic causes of piracy does not exist. This thesis seeks to identify the primary economic causes and consequences of maritime piracy in Somalia and Nigeria specifically, and coastal sub-Saharan Africa more generally. It investigates whether variables such as a lack of employment opportunities, particularly in the fisheries sector, are a causal factor of maritime piracy. These potential causal factors are explored using both case studies and regression analyses. Net exports of fish are found to be a statistically significant predictor of the frequency of piracy, suggesting that a decrease in national fish production and employment in the fisheries sector results in an increase in the occurrence of piracy.

En 2012 sévissent encore des pirates sur les mers du globe. Alors qu’on les pensait moribonds ou noyés dans la masse des terroristes, les pirates ont fait une réapparition marquée sur la scène internationale et dans les préoccupations des juristes. L’enjeu est d’adapter le droit international, consensuel et souple, aux obligations qui naissent fatalement de la répression d’une infraction internationale. La tâche est difficile car c’est la recherche d’un équilibre entre un ordre juridique contraignant (et efficace) et la sauvegarde des intérêts étatiques, pilier du droit international. Il faut donc approcher le renouveau de la piraterie sous différents angles :• tout d’abord identifier les caractéristiques de la « nouvelle » piraterie, qui a réussi à intégrer les progrès techniques dans un schéma classique ;• puis il faut établir un état des lieux des moyens de répression juridique à la disposition de la Communauté Internationale, ainsi que souligner les failles ou faiblesses juridiques du dispositif. Cette étape implique de recenser les textes internationaux et de les confronter à la réalité de la situation. En matière de piraterie, la question de la Somalie ne peut être évitée, mais d’autres régions moins médiatisées fournissent des solutions innovantes. L’approche consiste également à étudier différents textes nationaux concernant la piraterie afin de souligner l’importance d’une réglementation internationale homogène pour une répression efficace ;• il est nécessaire d’aborder la piraterie de manière verticale, en intégrant dans le processus l’étude des réponses juridiques, de la capture à l’emprisonnement du pirate, en ne faisant pas l’impasse sur les modalités de jugement et de protection des droits de l’homme ; Il faut également s’extraire de la pure approche juridique pour apprécier les facteurs économiques et sociaux qui en sont le ferment et les conséquences ;• enfin, après avoir mis en lumière les multiples aspects d’une infraction protéiforme, il faut tenter d’apporter des réponses juridiques qui s’inscrivent dans le respect des piliers traditionnels du droit international, souveraineté et égalité des Etats, mais pourtant efficaces. Il est aussi le rôle des juristes d’offrir des axes de pensées originaux, bien que n’ayant que peu de chance d’être suivi dans le contexte international actuel.La piraterie, infraction internationale, oblige aujourd’hui à une réflexion sur la place de la Communauté Internationale, en tant que sujet, par rapport aux acteurs traditionnels que sont les Etats et aux pouvoirs coercitifs dont elle peut disposer pour assurer la protection de l’ordre public international. / In 2012, pirates are still rampant on the seas. While we thought them to be moribund or embedded in the mass of terrorists, pirates have made a marked resurgence in the international and legal concerns. The challenge is to adapt the consensual and flexible, international law, to obligations inevitably arising from the repression of an international offense. The task is difficult, because it is a search for a balance between a binding (and effective) legal order, and the protection of state interests, pillar of international law. It is therefore necessary to approach the revival of piracy from different angles:• first, identifying the characteristics of the « new » piracy, which has managed to integrate technical progress in a classic pattern;• then, inventorying the means of legal repression that are available to the International Community, as well as highlighting the flaws or weaknesses of the legal system. This step involves identifying international texts and confronting them to the actual situation. On piracy, the issue of Somalia cannot be avoided, but other less publicized areas provide innovative solutions. The approach also consists in studying various national laws on piracy in order to emphasize the importance of uniform international rules for an effective repression;• it is necessary to address the piracy vertically, by integrating the process of studying legal responses, from capture to imprisonment of the pirate, without ignoring the terms of judgment and protection of human rights. There is also a need to extract from the pure legal approach, to assess the economic and social factors that constitute its close and consequences;• finally, having highlighted the multiple aspects of a multifaceted offense, we must try to give legal answers that are in accordance with traditional pillars of international law: sovereignty and equality of States, yet effective. It is also the role of lawyers to offering original thought axes, although these have little chance to be followed in the current international context.Piracy, an international crime, now requires a reflection on the role of the International Community, as the subject, compared to traditional actors such as States, and to coercive powers at its disposal to ensure the protection of the international public order.Keywords: Maritime piracy, international law, terrorism, Somalia, international crime, Montego Bay Convention

La piraterie maritime est communément perçue comme le crime international originel en ce qu’elle a de manière consensuelle ouverte la possibilité aux états de procéder à sa répression sans aucune distinction au nom de la préservation des intérêts communs de la communauté internationale. Cette compétence universelle a largement contribué à l’élargissement du champ d’application du droit international, en particulier pénal, alors même que ce droit apparait aujourd’hui paradoxalement inadapté pour répondre aux exigences de lutte contre la piraterie moderne. Le contexte ainsi que les caractéristiques singulières des actes de piraterie actuels constituent un enjeu tant dans l’application des dispositions du droit international mais également de manière plus général à la coopération internationale indispensable pour lutter contre les crimes transfrontaliers. Ce projet se propose de mener une réflexion sur, d’une part, les raisons de l’inadaptabilité des dispositions du droit international et, d’autre part, la nécessité d’élaborer un nouveau cadre juridique de lege feranda répondant aux nouvelles réalités de la piraterie maritime. / Maritime piracy is commonly considered as the original international crime. In the name of the common interest, states acknowledged the need to repress the crime of piracy regardless of nationalities or places of occurrence.. This piracy-inspired universal jurisdiction has contributed to broaden the scope of international law. Paradoxically, the latter appears inadequate to meet the necessary requirements to fight against modern piracy. The singular characteristics and the context of modern piracy are both a challenge, not only for the application of international law but also more broadly for the international cooperation essential to fight cross-border crimes. This project studies the reasons for the inadaptability of international law provisions and also the need to develop a new legal framework lege ferenda that will meet the new realities of maritime piracy. This new legal framework should take into account the needs to harmonize legislations in order to establish cooperation at the national, bilateral, regional and international level.

This diploma thesis deals with issue of maritime piracy, which is nowadays one of the significant international problems. Maritime piracy has substantial economic and other consequences, which increasingly motivate the international community to solve the maritime piracy problem. This thesis primarily focuses on these consequences and on ways of solving the maritime piracy problem.