Building Resilient Maritime Institutions: Governance and Piracy Control in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Sea piracy has emerged as a significant maritime security challenge in Southeast Asia, disrupting trade and regional stability. This study employs the framework of good governance to analyze ASEAN’s efforts in addressing sea piracy. Using a descriptive method, the paper assesses ASEAN’s performance against sea piracy using 8 key governance pillars from UN. Findings reveal that ASEAN successfully implements several pillars, including participation, consensus oriented, and inclusiveness. However, other crucial pillars, particularly accountability, transparency, and rule of law remain underdeveloped. The ASEAN Way, with its emphasis on consensus and noninterference, often hinders progress on these pillars. Although framework like the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), and forums like ASEANMaritime Forum (AMF), and ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) exist, their impact is limited due to the lack of binding legal agreements, rendering many activities more symbolic than effective. In contrast, sub-regional collaborations such as the Malacca Strait Patrol (MSP) and the SuluSulawesi Sea Patrol (SSSP) demonstrate greater success by adopting direct, actionable measures. These initiatives involve countries most affected by piracy and are driven by shared interests, leading to tangible reductions in piracy incidents. Indonesia plays a pivotal role as a key initiator of such collaborative efforts, particularly in the MSP and SSSP, reflecting its strategic commitment to maritime security and regional stability. The study concludes that while ASEAN has made progress in governance principles, its institutional effectiveness remains constrained, highlighting the importance of complementary sub-regional cooperation to combat maritime threats effectively.