From the 20th to 25th I will be attending the annual convention of the International Studies Association, Baltimore, US. The program kicks off with our next workshop of the Conceptualizing International Practices project. Over the next days I am scheduled to present or attend the following panels and events:  Continue reading →

Pakistan’s most important conference on maritime security is organized by the National Centre for Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR), the think tank of the country’s navy based at Bahria University. This year’s installment of the event is under the theme “Strategic Outlook in the Indian Ocean Region 2030 and Beyond: Evolving Challenges and Strategies”. The conference is held in conjunction with the naval exercise Aman, in which over 70 countries participate.

At the four-day conference (10-14.2), I gave a presentation titled “Pakistan and the Western Indian Ocean Community”. Drawing on the results of our recent analysis of the region, in the paper, I review the current strategic environment in the Western Indian Ocean, argue that the region can find a shared strategic vision in the concept of security community, and outline consequences for Pakistani’s foreign and security policy. I particularly highlight the need for sustained multilateral engagement in fora such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, the Indian Ocean Maritime Crime Forum, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, or the Djibouti Code of Conduct process. The paper is available here.

For my new research project SAFE SEAS funded by the British Academy and run together with Tim Edmunds from the University of Bristol we are currently looking for a research associate to support the project. We will also be recruiting research assistants based in Kenya, Seychelles, Djibouti and Somalia soon. The job add is as follows

Research Associate (5611BR)
School of Law and Politics, Cardiff University
The School of Law and Politics invites applications for a one year postdoctoral position (Research Associate). The position is in the frame of the project “Safe Seas. A study of Maritime Security Capacity Building in the Western Indian Ocean” funded by a British Academy Sustainable Development grant. Safe Seas is a pilot project and compares the ongoing efforts to restructure the maritime security sector in four countries (Djibouti, Kenya, Seychelles, and Somalia). The aim of Safe Seas is to develop key guidelines and best practices for the programming and implementation of maritime security capacity building and maritime security sector reform. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Christian Bueger and will undertake research and administrative work that supports the goals of the project. Further information on the project is available at www.safeseas.net. Further details about the post can be found at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/jobs (Reference 5611BR).
This is a full time post, fixed term for 12 months, and is expected to end 31 March 2018.
Closing date for Application: Monday, 27 February 2017. Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity. Our inclusive environment welcomes applications from talented people from diverse backgrounds.

 The website of my new research project SAFE SEAS. A study of maritime security capacity building in the Western Indian Ocean is now online at www.safeseas.net. The project is funded by the British Academy’s Sustainable Development Programme. In a project team of seven staff members we will develop 1) experienced based case studies on success and failure of capacity building for maritime security in the region (Djibouti, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia), 2) a methodology for the assessment of maritime security sectors, and 3)A best practice tool kit for the planning, programming and implementation of capacity building projects. The website provides regular updates on research results.

With the start of the new year, I have joined the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime Expert Network.

The Global Intiative provides a platform for greater debate and to identify innovative approaches that could form the building blocks of an inclusive global strategy against organized crime. It was born from a series of high-level, off the record discussions between law enforcement officials from both developed and developing countries in 2011-12. At these meetings, the founders of the Global Initiative, many of whom stand at the front line of the fight against organized crime, illicit trafficking and trade, concluded that the problem and its impacts are not well analyzed; they are not systematically integrated into national plans or strategies; existing multilateral tools are not structured to facilitate a response; and existing forms of cooperation tend to be bilateral, slow and restricted to a limited number of like-minded states.

From 22nd of December to 4th of January I am out of the office and will be enjoying my winter break. I wish everyone a decent break and look forward to the new year.

The Handbook of International Political Sociology edited by Xavier Guillaume and Pinar Bilgin has been published. The handbook provides a survey through the multi-dimensional field of international political sociology, explores core issues, theories and methods as well as the connections to cognate disciplines. It will become a useful resource for students and scholars and further strengthen the field. In my own chapter I discuss the practice turn and its methodological implications.  Preview the book here.

In a new article, published in The RUSI Journal and co-authored with Jan Stockbruegger, we discuss the post-2016 situation in the Western Indian Ocean. Reviewing the current environment, characterized by the decline of piracy and the persistence of maritime insecurity, we argue for the importance of developing a better designed regional maritime security architecture. The article is available here.