The Transnational Organised Crime at Sea project is the first major research project which not only consolidates existing knowledge on maritime crime, but also develops new insights on how they can be addressed and prevented on a regional and transnational level. Running between January 2019 and December 2022, the results of the project will open new avenues for research on maritime security and global ocean governance, and share new policy ideas for how to prevent crimes and assist countries in the Global South in doing so.
In recent years, maritime security has climbed high on the international agenda. Yet research on transnational organised crime at sea that can inform political and security responses on a national, regional, or international level remains weak. Such research concerns how different maritime crimes, such as piracy, illegal fishing, or smuggling relate to and re-enforce one another, as well as how different actors are cooperating within and between regions to address them. This knowledge is not only vital to protect maritime zones and safeguard maritime borders, but also to ensure the freedom of navigation and safety of shipping.
The project cross-fertilizes existing research on maritime crime to develop an evidence base for analysis and policy making. It compares three sub-regional maritime security governance systems with each other – the Western Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. Through studying these areas, the project shows how maritime crimes and transnational security problems can lead to new forms of international cooperation. The project develops essential guidelines and an outline of the best practices for how to tackle maritime crime.
Researchers:
- Professor Timothy P Edmunds, Professor of International Security, School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
- Professor Christian Bueger, Professor of International Relations, University of Copenhagen
- Dr Scott Edwards,Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
For further details please see the Transnational Organised Crime at Sea website
This project is associated with the MMB Challenge on Bodies, things, capital