ABSTRACT
Maritime piracy has emerged as the principal manifestation of maritime insecurity in modern times and has been a catalyst for an array of international counter-piracy activities. This chapter will explore definitions, conceptualisations and some of the causes and consequences of contemporary piracy. It then zooms in on three distinct regions to highlight how piracy manifests in different parts of the world and the ways in which regional states and the international community have attempted to counteract it. Finally, it considers some wider lessons and future perspectives from the experience of attempting to supress modern piracy.
