The law of maritime blockade: Past, present, and future

Although benign by appearance, Maritime Blockade can, in the right circumstances, be a devastating method of warfare, capable of bringing a country’s economy to its knees and causing mass suffering and starvation amongst its civilian population. In spite of its potentially deadly nature, maritime blockade remains one of the most unregulated and misunderstood forms of modern warfare. This holds particularly true in regards to the laws surrounding humanitarian requirements of civilian populations subjected to blockade operations. The Law of Maritime Blockade: Past, Present, and Future is an examination of the development and practice of the law of blockade over the past four centuries. Using examples from history, it describes the humanitarian impact of blockade, and provides analysis as to why this method of warfare has proven so difficult to regulate. Concluding that the current law of maritime blockade lacks a common framework or understanding, particularly in the context of non-international armed conflict, it suggests that the customary status of blockade law is dubious. In response, it offers model guidelines that provide the foundation for standardized rules designed to support the operational requirements of the belligerent parties whilst addressing the humanitarian requirements of affected civilian populations.