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New navies and maritime powers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2017

Steven Haines
Affiliation:
Steven Haines is Professor of Public International Law in the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom
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Summary

ABSTRACT.In the century from 1914 the number of navies increased more than four-fold. In the same period the legal, cultural, political and economic environment has massively changed. With one exception(China) large merchant fleets are no longer flagged to major naval powers. The seas are subject to varying degrees of national and international legal jurisdiction, but piracy and other seaborne crime is increasing. Navies have essential “constabulary” functions, with “war-fighting” held in reserve.

RÉSUMÉ.Depuis 1914, le nombre de marines a plus que quadruplé. l'environnement juridique, culturel, politique et économique s'est dans le même temps fortement transformé. À une exception près – la Chine –, les flottes marchandes importantes n'appartiennent plus aux principales puissances navales. Les mers sont sujettes à des degrés changeants de juridiction nationale et internationale mais la piraterie et autres formes de criminalité maritime sont en augmentation. Les marines ont des fonctions policières fondamentales et gardent en réserve des navires de guerre.

Broad and traditional interpretations of “maritime power” include both naval forces and, as Mahan noted, “the peaceful commerce and shipping from which alone a military fleet naturally and healthfully springs, and on which it securely rests”. Mention will certainly be made of commerce and shipping in what follows, but this essay's focus is on navies, with “maritime power” implying a concentration of “military strength afloat”.

The past century has probably been the most intense period of naval development in history.Today, there are over four times as many navies as there were at the beginning of the First World War, when the principal defining feature of all was their war-fighting capability. Today, war-fighting is not of such importance, with a great many navies having little, if any, capacity for it. Before concentrating on what navies do, however, we should explain why so many new ones have appeared since the Second World War.

A CENTURY OF NAVAL PROLIFERATION

When the Great War broke out in 1914, there were thirty-nine navies included in Jane's Fighting Ships. By 1950, they had increased slightly, to 56, but by 1970 they had almost doubled, to 106. In 1990 there were 149 and today there are just over 160.Overall, an increase of over a hundred since 1950.

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Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2017

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