Criminal tides : a comparative study of contemporary piracy in Somalia and Southeast Asia

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Maritime piracy is not a new phenomenon. However, the nature, severity and impacts ofcontemporary piracy have evolved to become a highly-organised, professional and internationalscourge. This comparative and explanatory study set out to explore questions regarding the how andwhy 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 andmotivations for piracy in these regions; (c) offer insights as to the most effective ways of combatingpiracy; (d) investigate the various impacts and effects of piracy; and (e) discussing the significanceof international responses to this phenomenon. In pursuing the above-mentioned goals this studyoffered a comparison of correlating trends and differences between these two regions.This study attributed the underlying motivations to two chief factors: namely, state failure andinstability, as well as socio-economic factors. These two factors, along with several additionalcontributing factors, effectively established piracy's main causes. The general findings of this studyconcluded that contemporary piracy cannot be understood without a thorough understanding of acombination of various factors. It was also argued that although the alleged link between piracy andterrorism 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 adiscussion of the most significant pirate attacks in these regions. This study established that thenature 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 thatan increase in violence and sophistication of piracy is apparent.By highlighting how contemporary piracy has become both a regional and international securitythreat, this study brought forward arguments that showed how piracy negatively affects regionalstability, as well as exacerbating poverty. Furthermore, this study found that the impacts of piracyare far-reaching and therefore require international and regional collaborative responses. Regardingsolutions to piracy, emphasis was placed on including domestic, regional and internationalapproaches. Moreover, this study argued that overlooking the internal problems on-land only serveto worsen the piracy situation in Somalia and Southeast Asia.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University