Theoritical Framework for Piracy

1.1. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF PIRACY

Keeping above mentioned questions in mind, the thesis is written from a rational choice perspective. This means that the actors described are assumed to behave (relatively) rationally given their preferences under the conditions they live in. However, this does not mean that the thesis relies on the formal theory of expected utility maximisation; it keeps the reasoning on a more informal level. A rational actor is understood as someone who chooses the action, among his feasible actions, that serves his aims best, given his understanding of the situation. Hence, incentives are central to the reasoning of this thesis. An incentive can be understood as any motivation or rationale for a certain choice, i.e. it does not always have to be a monetary reward but can equally well be a social or other value that is wanted to be attained. However in this thesis, the effect of disincentives, the rationale for not choosing a certain way - in case of piracy not choosing a legal way of livelihood - is much more significant then the effect of incentives. The reason for this is that in the states of piracy prone areas, and especially in Somalia, possibility of getting a humane life is very difficult if not possible and there is constant political and economic uncertainty which is directly linked to underdevelopment. Therefore the thesis will also include an approach from underdevelopment theory to explain the issue as opposed to classical security studies. The thesis uses the piracy activities as a method of criticizing the effects of globalization on underdeveloped states. In exploring the underlying motivations for the recent surge of piracy off the coasts of many underdeveloped states, the thesis identifies a relationship between primary needs satisfaction within underdeveloped states and the satisfaction of secondary interests in developed nations, and explains how globalization may exacerbating the turn toward piracy. Such a perspective has been chosen because it makes it possible to fruitfully understand and predict the pirates' behaviour and the real aspects of the issue. In a sense, this thesis investigates the intersection of two very separate subjects, piracy and the underdevelopment in piracy prone areas in the world.

To understand the underdevelopment-piracy relationship, it is necessary to further elaborate the underdevelopment theory with reference to studies on it. Studies from the underdevelopment theory are concerned to a greater or lesser degree with theoretical aspects of the study of the Third World. Social Science showed little interest in Third World societies until after the Second Wold War and that sociologists then followed economists in believing that development would follow the same lines as in West European nations in moving from the traditional to modern stage. Underdevelopment theory deplores the weakness of modernisation theory and inadequacies of theoretical analysis when applied to the Third World. (Richard Bailey:512-513) However, it is important to underline that there is no consensus on whether to consider underdevelopment as an individual theory or a part of dependence theories.

In his study "The Development of Underdevelopment" Andre Gunder Frank argues that underdevelopment is not something intrinsic defect of underdeveloped countries, but rather it has been developed by the colonial existence on these lands. Underdevelopment is not due to the survival of archaic institutions and the existence of capital shortage in regions that have remained isolated from the stream of world history. On the contrary, underdevelopment was and still is generated by the very same historical process which also generated economic development: the development of capitalism itself. (Gunder Frank)

According to modernization theories, internal factors in the countries, such as illiteracy, traditional agrarian structure, the traditional attitude of the population, the low division of labour, the lack of communication and infrastructure, etc., are responsible for underdevelopment. Differences in structure and historical origin are considered of little importance; international dependencies are not taken into account. Suitable measures for backwardness are the modernization of the production apparatus, capital aid, transfer of know-how, so that the developing countries can reach the stage of industrialized countries as soon as possible. Development is seen as an increase of production and efficiency and measured primarily by comparing the per capita income. Consequently, a change of these endogenous factors is the strategy for development. The industrialized countries are the model for economy and society, and this model will be reached sooner or later. There is a continuum between the least and the most developed country and each country has its position on this line. (FRITHJOF KUHNEN: 12) Also the assumption was that as societies become more developed economically, they would gradually become more democratic. Such growth would require large amounts of Western capital. Gendzier argues that this conventional modernization theory ignores numerous critical factors, including the social dislocations created by massive infusions of Western capital and culture, the question of control over this capital, and the nature of competition from the first world, or more countries. (Victor E.Sachse:509)

Similarly according to Rostow's Theory of Stages of Growth long-term economic development processes has of five ideal types of stages through which all societies pass:

- The "traditional society" has more than 75 per cent of the population engaged in food production, and political power is in the hands of landowners or of a central authority supported by the army and the civil servants.

- The "transitional stage" creates the preconditions for take-off by bringing about radical changes in the non-industrial sectors. Export of raw material gains momentum; a new class of businessmen emerges; and the idea of economic progress coming from outside spreads through the elite.

- The "take-off stag" brings a sharp increase in the rate of investment in the per capita output. This stage of industrial revolution is accompanied by radical changes in the production techniques. Expansion takes place in a small group of leading sectors at first and, on the social side, is accompanied by the domination of the modern section of society over the traditional one.

- The "drive to maturity" brings a spread of growth from the leading to the other sectors and a broader application of modern technology followed by necessary changes in the society at large.

- The "stage of high mass consumption" can be reached after attaining a certain level of national income and formulating an economic policy giving priority