Master's Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Politics - Other International Politics Topics, grade: PASS, University of Nairobi (Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (IDIS)), course: International Relations, language: English, abstract: Maritime security is a key component of collective security and thus forms part of the foundation for economic development. The Indian Ocean region, particularly the East African region does not have its own maritime policy or strategy, despite the acknowledged importance of this component of any national or regional economy. Given the unique needs of its populace, priorities and requirements of the various states, the East African part of the Indian Ocean therefore needs to develop a maritime strategy to promote economic development for its people through improved maritime security, leading to improved global competitiveness for its goods and services. To achieve the desired peace and a stable environment, cooperation and adoption of a holistic maritime legislation is mandatory which, in turn, would strengthen the maritime institutions which are crucial for a maritime strategy. This combination of strengthened and coherent legislation, institutions and cooperation would enhance the policing of, and prosecution for, illegal acts, eg piracy, terrorism, trafficking and the dumping of waste materials; it would better regulate the fishing industry; ensure pollution will be policed; countering of smuggling and illicit trade; transnational or cross-border crime would be better monitored and reduced; and further, the safe navigation of shipping guaranteed. This will eventually translate to a peaceful, a more secure and stable Indian ocean region. Thus the required good order at sea should be viewed as a function of how states should exercise their jurisdiction on maritime issues for sustainable peace and development.

This book provides a synoptic view of the Indian Ocean and maritime security in its contested waters. Using a historical approach, it reveals vital links to events in the present day. The volume: Highlights the competition between major Asian powers to control the ‘String of Pearls’ — a reference to the Chinese attempts at controlling the Indian Ocean periphery. Shows that cooperation amongst the major powers of the region could abate the threat of the potential of conflict becoming global and inviting external intervention. Discusses India’s Look-East policy and the deepening relation between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Argues for the need of Indian Ocean states and particularly the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to look afresh at their political and security issues and common interests. Suggests measures for evolving a robust mechanism of maintaining the Indian Ocean as a sustainable zone of commerce, energy, security and peace rather than threat. A major contribution on a critical area in Asian geopolitics, this volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of international relations, politics, defence studies and maritime security studies, along with strategic affairs experts and think tanks.

Maritime security is one of the latest additions to the field of international as well as national security. The concept has received growing attention especially due to the intensification of concerns over maritime terrorism since 2000. The rise of modern piracy, maritime crimes such as human trafficking, and the increasing importance of the 'blue economy' and issues relating to freedom of navigation, maritime environmental protection and resource management have resulted in increased significance of maritime security studies. A significant number of states and other international actors such as, Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and Transnational Corporations (TNCs), have placed maritime security high in their security agenda. This priority is reflected in several governmental and intergovernmental strategies for maritime security. In addition to that the regional grouping in the Indian Ocean and Indo – Pacific, such as ASEAN, BIMSTEC, IORA, and IONS have placed maritime security issues high in their agenda.

The Indian Ocean is of tremendous geo-political and strategic relevance. More than eighty per cent of global seaborne trade in oil passes through the Ocean. Access to resources is under-regulated (fishing) or has yet to be conceived (deep sea bed mining) and security concerns such as piracy and the stability of strategically located states, are propelling countries to rethink naval capabilities and priorities. This applies to littoral countries as well as to extra-regional powers such as China, Japan, European countries and the United States, each of which is keenly interested in maintaining and securing open sea-lanes of communication. The revival in maritime concern is prompting new dynamics of competition and cooperation in a region that has historically been characterised by dense cultural, economic and political networks. The Indian Ocean is an extensive and expansive space where no one power has been able to hold sway. Hence, multilateralism and open regionalism are key contributors to stability, both in terms of military as well as commercial coordination. In this issue, scholars from Asia, Europe and the US examine institutions and examples of maritime governance within the Indian Ocean including security arrangements, evolving forms of alliance building and counter-balancing, policy planning and forecasting. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of the Indian Ocean Region.

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