International Order at Sea

This book examines how international order at sea is challenged, changed and maintained. The book surveys challenges to the international order at sea in the Asia-Pacific, the Indian Ocean Region, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. It explores the interaction between and cooperation among leading, emerging and smaller naval powers, both naval and coastguard responses, required for the maintenance of good order at sea. Six broad and interlinked issues are identified that will influence the future international order at sea: the balance between the maritime and the continental domains; the balance between great power rivalry and cooperation; the contest between access and denial; the operational balance between preparing; building and training for warfighting as opposed to operations other than war; how to manage ‘disorder’ security challenges that very often transcends territorial waters and national boundaries, and finally, the balance between safeguarding national interests and contributing to collective efforts preserving the international order at sea.

• International Order at sea
• Maritime policy
• Asian security studies
• Public order
• Law of the sea
• Maritime East Asia
• Naval modernisation
• NATO
• Maritime security cooperation
• Seapower
• Coastguard response
• Naval Operations-Other-Than-War
• Maritime Strategies

“International Order at Sea's global perspective on maritime security provides important insights, not only on the challenges being faced by national decision makers, but potential solutions to some of the more intractable problems. Its mix of expert practitioners with leading theoretical analysts gives the reader a clear sense not only of what really matters in the maritime domain, but what most needs to be done for its future governance.” (Rear Admiral James Goldrick RAN (Retd) Fellow, Seapower Centre and Lowy Institute, Australia) 

“The oceans have never been more important than they are today. Maintaining the security of shipping and other maritime interests is absolutely vital, especially in the context of an evolving international environment where great power rivalry is re-emerging.  The most distinguished international team who have produced this book have made a major contribution to our understanding of this vital subject. It should be widely read.” (Professor Eric Grove, Wolverhampton University, UK)

“Order at sea, or more accurately, disorder at sea has become routine fodder for nightly news. Bekkevold and Till have compiled a volume on this topic that “covers the waterfront”; geographically and topically. This systemic look at problems and collaborative solutions, including the central roles China and Russia now play, is most welcome.” (RADM Michael McDevitt, USN (ret) Senior Fellow, Center for Naval Analyses, U.S.)

• Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Norway

  Jo Inge Bekkevold

• King’s College London, United Kingdom

  Geoffrey Till

Jo Inge Bekkevold is Head of the Centre for Asian Security Studies at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. With Robert S. Ross, he recently edited China in the Era of Xi Jinping: Domestic and Foreign Policy Challenges, 2016. Bekkevold is a former Norwegian diplomat who served in Hanoi and Beijing.

Geoffrey Till is Professor Emeritus of Maritime Studies and Chairman of Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies at King’s College London, UK. Since 2009 he has also been a Visiting Professor at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore. He is the author of Seapower: A Guide for the 21^st Century, 2013.

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