New publication investigates maritime domain awareness

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In a new publication titled “Effective Maritime Domain Awareness in the Western Indian Ocean”, SAFESEAS principal investigator Prof. Bueger discusses the importance of maritime domain awareness for the region and asks how the structures can be better supported. He argues for the importance of paying more attention to low-tech solutions and working with human sources. The … Read more

Why be a pirate? Understanding motivations for piracy

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By Zamzam Tatu, M&C Saatchi World Services, Kenya Following primary research recently conducted at Montagne Posse Prison, Seychelles, little has changed behind the drivers to commit maritime crime. To prevent piracy, a more nuanced approach to understanding the behaviour might be key to a solution. Maritime crime, piracy and Somalia have become seen as synonymous … Read more

Talk at University of Cape Town

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On the 27th of June, SAFESEAS principal investigator Prof. Bueger gave a lecture at the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Law. Drawing in large parts on an article forthcoming with the European Journal of International Relations, the talk discussed some of the core insights on global security governance that can be developed from the fight against piracy. The … Read more

Does capacity building stand for a new era of international engagement?

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Capacity building is the core term through which many global actors describe their international engagement today. While the concept of “capacity building” is anything but new, its arrival in international security discourse is relatively recent. Are we witnessing a major shift in terms of how security actors plan, implement and think about their international engagement? 

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SafeSeas attends plenary of contact group on piracy (CGPCS)

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In the first week of July the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) is holding its 20th plenary meeting in Mauritius.  One of the long-standing core agenda items of the CGPCS – the main global governance body for the coordination of counter-piracy work of the international community – is coordination of … Read more

What knowledge does capacity building need? The fallacies of epistemic determinism

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Inherent in contemporary understandings of capacity building is the idea that if a country possesses the right knowledge and technology then it will be able to handle the challenges associated with the Sustainable Development Goals. In consequence, much emphasis of capacity building work is on transferring technology and knowledge to least developed countries. Often, little thought goes into the question what the “right” or “appropriate” knowledge might be. The assumption is that knowledge (such as what functions a maritime security sector has to perform) is universal and can be easily transferred. 

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Development, Security and the Oceans: Summary of World Oceans Day event

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In celebration of World Oceans Day, the SAFESEAS team in collaboration with the Sustainable Places Research Institute and the Crime and Security Research Institute at Cardiff University held a seminar on the 8th of June with the aim of exploring linkages between some of the key challenges facing the ocean space. This blog summarises the key insights gained at the event. 

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2nd project day of SafeSeas

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SafeSeas is in its second work phase, the data collection. To coordinate data collection on maritime security sectors, the project had its second joint workshop day on June the 12th and discussed with all team members the first results and next steps. During the meeting focus areas were identified and visits to local stakeholders planned. … Read more