The Power of Networks in Maritime Security

Understanding the Somali piracy crisis could make crossing the Mediterranean safer for refugees. Although the Mediterranean migration crisis is very different from maritime piracy, many of the same groups are impacted. The lessons of counter-piracy suggest that by bringing together key international stakeholders to agree on implementing a coordinated set of responses, dangerous maritime situations can be identified, addressed and contained. 

The use of international systems structured as multi-sectoral networks, rather than more formal or enduring hierarchies, was one element that allowed the response to Somali piracy to be fairly nimble, coordinated, and effective. This report by Oceans Beyond Piracy and OEF Research reviews the key lessons about network structures and how they were useful in the response to Somali piracy, and makes suggestions about how these lessons may apply to the Mediterranean migration crisis that’s unfolding today.