The Indian Ocean region is arguably one of the world's least understood, yet its importance in geopolitics and international relations is greater than ever before. This book explores the concepts of regime theory, regional orders and ocean governance to critically assess the effectiveness of maritime regimes, something that not been attempted before for the Indian Ocean Region. This study employs the theoretical framework of international regimes in the context of ocean governance by developing a new model, which is used to test the regimes' effectiveness.
This book addresses the analytical gap in our understanding about the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean as a region in contemporary world geopolitics and international relations. Case studies display the groundwork for regional cooperation in the maritime realm laid by Indian Ocean countries, and the effectiveness of current political leadership is addressed. There is considerable value in looking at the Indian Ocean as a region for future analysis of maritime regimes, and this book proposes that international maritime regimes can expand regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean to create a new geopolitical region. The interdisciplinary approach presented draws on historical analysis, international maritime law, political science, international relations and the literature on regime theory and will be of interest to academics in those fields as well as policy-makers concerned with maritime issues.
