The privatisation of maritime security in Southeast Asia: the impact on regional security cooperation

Abstract

This paper examines the involvement of new modes of governance (NMoG)/new actors, in establishing new regional regulatory frameworks in Southeast Asia. The basis for this discussion is a framework suggested by Kanishka Jayasuriya who argues that the activities of NMoG can facilitate the establishment of such regional regulatory frameworks. Concentrating on maritime services provided by one new actor, Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs), this paper suggests that the current activities and working practices of PMSCs in Southeast Asia are more likely to undermine regional security cooperation and regional governance, thus challenging some of the tenets of Jayasuriya's framework.

本文探讨了在建立东南亚新的地区规范框架时引入新治理模式以及新主体的可能性。本讨论的基础是卡尼实卡·扎亚苏里亚提出的框架。卡尼实卡认为新治理模式有利于建立这样的地区性规范框架。本文集中讨论了私人军事安全公司这一新主体所提供的海上服务，作者质疑了卡氏框架，认为私人军事安全公司目前的活动及做法倒更有可能损害该地区的安全合作与治理。

Keywords:

• new modes of governance
• privatisation of security
• regionalism Asia

Notes

1. New actors include genuinely ‘new’ actors as well as those that have existed for a while but are now involved in new or different ways. Also, a distinction can be made between new actors and NMoG, with new actors referring to single actors, while NMoG refers to a process that involves, or relates to, actors. However, these distinctions are often not very clear.

2. Information about PMSCs was largely gathered through interviews with PMSC employees in Asia and Europe between 2005 and 2009. Many interviewees wanted to remain anonymous, but names of interviewees are included wherever possible.

3. Getting information about which agencies issue permissions for foreign-based PMSCs is difficult. Experts on security in Malaysia and Indonesia have suggested in interviews that such permits have not been issued, as central government authorities do not want foreign-based PMSCs to work in their waters.

4. Noor Apandi Osnin (18) states in his 2006 paper that no permits have been issued.

5. A first step in this direction would require governments in the region to seriously discuss national regulation of PMSCs, before regional talks could be initiated. Even then, regional cooperation on this issue would most likely encounter the same difficulties as other collaboration between governments in the region.

6. Once PMSCs change their working practices and fit into this refined framework, they might contribute to the establishment of new regional governance frameworks.

7. This may be particularly the case in countries where coordination of responsibilities of government agencies is unclear.

8. Such frameworks are emerging. See: Carroll and Sovacool (2010).