Contemporary Maritime Piracy in Southeast Asia

History, Causes and Remedies

Adam J Young

Publication Year: 2007

This book explores contemporary maritime piracy in Southeast Asia, demonstrating the utility of using historical context in developing policy approaches that will address the roots of this resurgent phenomenon. The depth and breadth of historical piracy help highlight causative factors of contemporary piracy, which are immersed in the socio-cultural matrix of maritime-oriented peoples to whom piracy is still a “thinkable” option. The threats to life and property posed by piracy are relatively low, but significant given the strategic nature of these waterways that link the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and because piracy is emblematic of broader issues of weak state control in the littoral states of the region. Maritime piracy will never be completely eliminated, but with a progressive economic and political agenda aimed at changing the environment from which piracy is emerging, it could once again become the exception rather than the rule.

Published by: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

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There are of course many people who have lent their time and expertise in helping shape this book. In particular, I would like to thank Mark Valencia who has supported, guided, and most indispensably critiqued this work along the way; Barbara Andaya who guided the early directions and shape of this work...

Glossary of Selected Terms

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pp. viii-

1. Introduction

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pp. 1-23

It was a pertinent and true answer which was made to Alexander the Great by a pirate whom he had seized. When the king asked him what he meant by infesting the sea, the pirate defiantly replied: “The same as you do when you infest...

2. Historical Piracy in Southeast Asia

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pp. 24-56

This chapter will introduce, discuss, and reconstruct understandings of various phenomena in Southeast Asia under the Western rubric of “piracy”. This is problematic as the word piracy has been used historically to describe everything...

3. Causative Factors of Contemporary Piracy

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pp. 57-113

This chapter will explore causative factors of contemporary piracy through the lens of state control, exploring three aspects: (1) the marginalization of maritime peoples, (2) gaps in the political hegemony of states, and (3) tools, intelligence, tactics, and complimentary technology. The first section will examine the marginalization...

4. Conclusions and A Way Forward

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pp. 114-130

Maritime piracy has a long, interesting, and involved history in the region, and the continuity of the roots of historical and contemporary piracy highlight the endemic nature of piracy in the region. This chapter will summarize and analyse continuities between historical and contemporary piracy...

App. A. Background and Further Details of UNCLOS and SUA

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pp. 131-133

App. B. Piracy Statistics

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pp. 134-136

Bibliography

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pp. 137-150

Index

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pp. 151-157

About the Author

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pp. 158-

E-ISBN-13: 9789812307316
Print-ISBN-13: 9789812304070

Page Count: 160
Publication Year: 2007

Edition: 1