Conceptualizing maritime constabulary effectiveness (MCE)

Abstract

This article conceptualizes the effectiveness of states’ constabulary efforts in maritime security and utilizes influential frameworks from both fields of research to design the maritime constabulary effectiveness (MCE) framework. The MCE represents a significant methodological and theoretical contribution to the fields of maritime security and effectiveness with a first-of-its-kind analytic framework that aims to determine how maritime constabulary effectiveness should be assessed and measured. This study’s research design includes a qualitative investigation of 64 case studies published in academic books and articles between 2012 and 2022. The analysis focuses on states and navies and their performances in creating seapower and managing maritime security commitments. The research method involves identifying the most common and suitable elements using Bruger’s ‘security practice theory’ and utilizing an existing framework structure (Brooks’ military effectiveness framework). The conceptualized framework’s dynamics are influenced by two independent factors: ‘governance and national politics’ and ‘maritime geopolitical factors’. Moreover, four mechanisms represent a set of prerequisite activities for effective constabulary performance: awareness, innovation, planning and cooperation. Furthermore, two main attributes reflect and measure the MCE: comprehensiveness and strategicness. While the existing academic literature on maritime security discuss issues of effectiveness, a comprehensive framework for effectiveness in nation-level constabulary activities does not exist. In effort to advance the current literature, this research aims to provide an innovative framework for a deeper empirical and academic discussion on maritime security than what was possible before and a tool for the assessment of maritime constabulary efforts.