Understanding Maritime Security

A concise introduction to the history and evolution of security at sea.

Whether it is pirates, smugglers, illicit fishing, or disputes in the South China Sea, the oceans are of increasing importance in international security. In Understanding Maritime Security, Christian Bueger and Timothy Edmunds provide a concise introduction to the history of security at sea and explain the core frameworks of analysis that professionals use to understand and tackle challenges to maritime order. They discuss key issues within the maritime security agenda, including inter-state disputes, terrorism, piracy, smuggling, trafficking, and illicit fishing, and examine how states have responded. Bueger and Edmunds analyze future trends and show how maritime security is impacted by the critical infrastructure agenda, emerging technologies, cyber security, climate change, biodiversity loss, and the renaissance of geopolitics. Comprehensive and incisive, this primer of maritime security is essential reading for maritime security professionals and students of this increasingly important issue.

Christian Bueger is Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen, where he leads the Ocean Infrastructures Research Group and the Copenhagen Ocean Hub. Bueger is also an honorary professor at the University of Seychelles and one of the directors of the SafeSeas network. He holds a PhD from the European University institute and is the author of several books and over 180 articles on global ocean politics, maritime security, and issues in international theory.

Timothy Edmunds is Professor of International Security and Director of the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol. He is also one of the directors of the SafeSseas network. Between 2015-19, he was founding Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of International Security for Cambridge University Press and the British International Studies Association (BISA). His work addresses issues of security policy, capacity building, and security sector reform, with focus on the maritime domain.