Professor Manushag N. Powell

Pirate figures have evolved in the way they are presented on the screen. From downright villains to gentlemanly rakes, their depiction has changed over the years. […]

‘Piracy’ is not restricted to imply theft or crime. Pirates are no longer seen to be the low-ranking villains they were in the 18th century. The implications of the terms have undergone a sea change to sweep in the contemporary pop culture. […]

Small-scale piracy is often trivialized as being merely local issues, thereby minimizing how violent and damaging they, too, can be. Often engaged in by indigenous peoples who have for generations lived by at sea on ships or have been a nomadic seafaring group. […]

Somali pirates have an image of being ruthless, fearsome hostage takers. However, the truth is that they are exploited by local warlords and have few options when it comes to having any other vocational avenue. […]

There is clearly no one-size-fits-all solution to international piracy. The pirates still successfully hide behind false flags, confusing ownership of the vessel and expired registrations. To top this, they are often well-armed and not shy of confrontation. […]

It is estimated that nearly a fifth of the world’s international fish markets are supplied by fish pirates who employ illegal means to catch prized fish. They often attack other fishing boats, looting the haul which may fetch them millions. […]

The 18th century saw effective multipronged strategies to end piracy. Some steps included granting amnesty, putting consistent international pressure, passing laws and acts, and even diplomacy. […]

The British anti-pirate forces often had to work with crude ships, dwindling suppplies with no chance of re-stocking and often facing diseases like scurvy and yellow fever. […]

Resolving the problem of piracy isn’t as simple as capturing the pirates. One has to factor in many aspects such as expense, manpower, socioeconomic conditions and unanimously banning the pirates. […]