Maritime security and transformations in global governance

In a short period of time stretching from 2010 to 2012, international guidance was issued, industry guidelines were re-written, and national laws were changed for the purposes of enhancing maritime security through armed private security provision. Having previously been shunned by ship-owners and national government alike, armed private security contractors are today considered legitimate security providers on board ships transiting piracy-infested waters. Recognizing the global shift in practice and perception, the article analyses the global governance arrangement surrounding the resort to armed private security in the maritime domain for the purpose of casting new light on private and public governance capacities. By doing so, the article also challenges implicit perceptions of maritime governance as distinct from land-based governance. In the maritime governance arrangement under scrutiny, public actors neither row nor steer; rather, they facilitate security governance by carving out privileged spheres for commercial industries through their convening capacities, regulatory infrastructure and legitimizing role. The facilitation by public actors of private actors in the governance arrangement surrounding private maritime security denotes both an active and passive reaction to changes in the globalized security environment in order remain relevant in contemporary security politics, also referred to as the 'globalization paradox'. The findings highlight the truly global impact of evolving governance dynamics, and the changing relationship between private and public governors.