ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the influence of the liberal international relations approach on the normative definition of maritime security, as illustrated through the conventional structures that constitute the law of the sea, as well as the creation of maritime jurisdiction zones. The analysis focuses on how the liberal conception of maritime security has expanded its research focus, along with the subsequent regulatory developments in material areas that were not previously considered relevant by traditional security studies. Subsequently, it addresses the contribution of this trend to the operational field: security at sea through formal and informal cooperation structures, as well as regional security regimes that are more or less institutionalised. Finally, the chapter highlights the unique contribution that a liberal approach offers to this new conception of maritime security.
