ABSTRACT
Introduction Piracy and Somalia have had a remarkably synergistic eff ect on each other. Piracy has helped Somalia gain world-wide recognition for its problems. Somalia has made the world aware of the threat piracy presents to international trade. Piracy off Somalia now appears to be over, which has allowed international attention to shift to other crises elsewhere in the world. The question is whether the measures taken to contain the piracy off Somalia, including interventions by states and international bodies, will have a lasting eff ect? Have they, moreover, contributed to social stability and improved economic prospects on land? If not then the social turmoil that allowed piracy to fl ourish in the fi rst place may return.
