Non-state actors in the maritime domain: non-state responses to maritime security challenges

Abstract

Over the past decades, non-state actors have played an increasingly important role in the mitigation of maritime security challenges, particularly non-traditional security threats such as piracy, illegal fishing or human trafficking at sea. Among the most prominent of these non-state actors are Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Taking a closer look at the activities of anti-piracy PMSCs and NGOs active in search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean, this chapter examines the role of non-state actors in maritime security governance and assesses if their efforts work against or complement state responses to maritime security challenges.