Maritime Security Risks, Vulnerabilities and Cooperation: Uncertainty in the Indian Ocean

摘要

Lee Cordner applies decades of regional experience and maritime expertise in a comprehensive assessment of the Indian Ocean maritime environment and makes a rational, risk-based argument for the necessity of cooperative approaches in maritime security within the region. Cordner's analysis of this region identifies important characteristics of the political, economic, and security environment. He also examines a broad list of other regional influences affecting maritime security and cooperation. Cordner analyzes the effects of the regions rich demographic composition and identifies significant challenges to collective action posed by differences in culture, religion, ethnicity, and language. His assessment captures the difficulty in finding common interests among Indian Ocean states. Although his analysis describes the Indian Ocean region as a disparate collection of subsystems, he identifies numerous challenges in promoting and achieving a shared value of regionalism among Indian Ocean states. Cordner further develops a multinational concept of regionalism that is more than mere collective action and activities; it also includes a shared regional identity and purpose.