Small boats, weak states and dirty money : contemporary piracy and maritime terrorism's threat to international security

The sea is a restless realm, In part that restlessness is timeless: the action of wind and waves. In part it is ancient: the direct threat of pirates. In part it is very modern: the threat of terrorism that has been felt acutely since the events of 11th September 2001. he reaction to these events has had a profound and continuing impact in the maritime domain. In particular it has been suggested that pirates and maritime terrorists present a largely common threat to international maritime security. This thesis examines this hypothesis by reviewing each phenomenon separately before asking how and under what circumstances pirates and maritime terrorists might come together.