Piracy in Perspective - A critical analysis of the UN response to contemporary piracy

Abstract

The thesis focuses on the concept of contemporary piracy (1975 – present). After identifying causes, manifestations and important trends, it specifically analyses the response to piracy by the United Nations. This is done on the assumption that one can identify three separate ‘responses’. It is analysed how the UN has tried to establish a regulatory framework, how it has fared in establishing an inventory of attacks and how it has taken action against piracy. I hereafter conclude that although piracy off the coast of Somalia received far greater attention than any other contemporary form of piracy, the response is not as groundbreaking as many have proclaimed.