Sea piracy has infested the seven seas throughout history. In modern times, the United States has paid little attention to piracy because the nation's isolated vastness has protected the shipping industry from maritime crime. But the events of 9/11 have changed the lens through which America views security. This thesis investigates modern day piracy and links between piracy and terrorism in order to determine implications for U.S. maritime security strategy. Specifically, the maritime environment in Southeast Asia and associated maritime security policies are researched because a sizable proportion of the world's sea piracy occurs in that region. U.S. maritime security policy is also evaluated. / US Navy (USN) author.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2009. / Description based on title screen as viewed on April 23, 2009. Thesis Advisor(s): Simeral, Robert. "March 2009." Author(s) subject terms: Coast Guard, Maritime Terrorist, Piracy, Semi-Submersibles, Security, Small Boats, Americas Waterways Watch, Maritime Domain Awareness, Department of Homeland Security Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-124). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy)--Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, 2008. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on Oct. 28, 2008. "04 April 2008." Electronic version of original print document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-91).

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Far East, South East Asia, Pacific))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010. / Thesis Advisor(s): Porch, Douglas; Second Reader: Kline, Jeffrey F. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Sri Lanka, Insurgency, Counterinsurgency, Maritime Interdiction, Irregular Warfare, Piracy, Counter-piracy, Maritime Terrorism, Arms Smuggling, Counter-arms Smuggling, Maritime Security Operations, Small Boat Tactics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-76). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.M.A.S.) -- U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2009. / "AD-A512 384." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.M.A.S.)--U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2007. / Cover title. AD-A475 516. Includes bibliographical references. Electronic version available on the Public STINET.

The purpose of this study was to investigate maritime terrorism, maritime piracy and acts of armed robbery of ships and the influence of specific role-players on the issue both internationally and regionally. The study investigated established measures to regulate and combat these threats and the reasons why some areas are more affected than others. The study focused on maritime terrorism, piracy and armed robbery of ships in East and West Africa and Southeast Asia in the 21st century (1 January 2000 to 31 December 2008), specifically as these are the regions most affected by such incidents. The study aimed to establish the following: <ul> <li> Which socio-economic, and political factors in individual states influence the occurrence of maritime terrorism, piracy and acts of armed robbery of ships and could piracy and acts of armed robbery of ships be eradicated if the socio-economic and political issues in affected countries receive more attention?</li> <li> Is the eradication of maritime piracy and terrorism at all possible considering the social problems facing underdeveloped countries, the effectiveness of current international measures in combating piracy and acts of armed robbery of ships, as well as current trends in global terrorism and organised crime?</li> <li> Why are all underdeveloped countries not affected by the problem of maritime piracy?</li> <li> Is there any proof that the use of force against pirates leads to an escalation in violence?</li> <li> What forms of interaction exist between maritime pirates and terrorist groups in these areas, and will the elimination of piracy and acts of armed robbery of ships have a major effect on the continued existence of maritime terrorism?</li></ul> Both socio-economic conditions and political factors in a given country or region have an influence on the occurrence of piracy, acts of armed robbery of ships and maritime terrorism, but could be countered by other factors such as the presence of strong law enforcement agencies. The level of violence existing in a country also plays a role. As the objectives of pirates and maritime terrorists differ, very few examples of interaction between these groups exist. Both pirates and terrorists adapt to measures instituted by the international community and change their tactics and areas of operations accordingly. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

Maritime piracy, a phenomenon which has plagued free maritime trade for thousands of years, has entered a new age of sophistication and global reverberation. These acts of illegal criminal activity in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries yield a significant profit margin for the perpetrators while creating considerable cost for ransom payments, security measures, capital, and human life. The classification of maritime pirates, as either criminals hoping to gain financial income or terrorists hoping to usher in political change, is warranted and compelling. If maritime pirates conduct their operations to institute political change, it is possible that flags of the United States and its allies can be more susceptible to pirate attacks than others. The author argues that although the definitional separation of "maritime piracy" and "terrorism" is becoming increasingly blurred in the twenty-first century, pirates will attack ships based on convenience and opportunity rather than based on the flags of vessels. Testing of this theory will be based on quantitative data produced by the International Maritime Bureau to test pirates’ ideologies as a variable. To test if deprivation is a variable to consider, the author will also compare Indonesian economic performance with the frequency of attempted pirate attacks off its waters.

東南亞海域的海洋運輸在亞太地區經濟成長上扮演相當重要的角色。一旦海上環境遭受猛烈恐怖襲擊，全球的船運和貿易活動立即會受到嚴重的影響。尤其是麻六甲海峽的特殊地理環境，讓恐怖份子很容易在良好策劃下，完成海上恐怖攻擊活動。後續該地區的保險金額將會高得驚人，造成整個東南亞地區的海運、亞洲地區的貿易、全球經濟的成長都會受到波及。這也正是為何執恐怖世界牛耳的「蓋達」組織正在積極組建「海軍」，對海上恐怖攻擊展現高度興趣的主要原因。近幾年來東南亞海盜有漸趨暴力的傾向，加上「蓋達」組織的阿富汗基地受創，部分幹部落腳於東南亞，更加深人們對於手段殘暴的海盜與海上恐怖主義的聯想。「蓋達」業已投注許多心力發展海上攻擊能力，如果再與東南亞恐怖組織分享研究成果的話，情況勢必更加棘手。 本文特別針對印尼、馬來西亞、新加坡、菲律賓與泰國等五個國家作分析，檢視各國所發生的海上暴力事件以及處理的方式，並且研究各國主政者對於恐怖主義的態度。此外，對於與海上恐怖主義有關聯的東南亞恐怖組織包括「伊斯蘭教祈禱團」、「阿布薩耶夫」、「摩洛伊斯蘭解放陣線」與「摩洛民族解放陣線」等，分析其有無跨界發展的能量與發動海上恐怖攻擊的能力。文中也試著從「東協」及其相關組織以及「聯合國」、「國際海事局」、「國際海事組織」、「亞太經濟合作會議」等全球性的機構分析其面對新興海上恐怖主義活動的回應，進而整理出促進東南亞各國在海上安全維護上更進一步合作的措施。最後針對台灣的海上反恐作一檢視，希望可以從全球海上反恐的努力獲取經驗，與全球反恐接軌，提升國家海上安全的保障。 關鍵字：海上恐怖主義活動、「蓋達」組織、麻六甲海峽、九一一事件、東南亞、海盜。

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)--USMC Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from PDF title screen. Text document in PDF format. Includes bibliographical references (p. 21-22).