The Crimes of War Project just released a very interesting essay  called “Maritime Piracy and International Law.”  The piece points out that although there has been a recent upsurge in the waters East of Africa, the problem is not a new one.  In fact, the International Maritime Bureau has run a Piracy Reporting Center since 1992.  Before 2008, most maritime piracy took place off the coast of Asia.

This issue has been in the news a lot in the past year, probably because the idea of piracy really captures the imagination.  I think what is ignored in the discussion is how crime of this nature is a product of poverty and absolute desperation.