With increased economic activities and shifting of global power axis, the 21st century will witness greater human interface with the oceans. While global powers may contest to dominate the waters essential for trade and sustenance, the emerging powers and rising economies will be aspiring for freedom of navigation to bolster their trade and economic independence. Consequently, there is potential for conflict and therefore greater need for laws and norms to govern the activities in the high seas. However, often the powerful nations do not completely abide by the idea of a rules based international order, especially, when it is against their perceived national interests. The contestation in South China Sea is a clear manifestation of this trend.

This book deals with how the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) could provide solutions for managing the maritime global commons. The book also provides an ideal example of how extremely complex maritime disputes between India, Bangladesh and Myanmar were resolved in the Bay of Bengal by an abiding commitment towards UNCLOS and reliance on international rules-based mechanisms for dispute resolution.

Alok Bansal is the Director of India Foundation. He is also an Adjunct Professor at New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) and Secretary General of Asian Eurasian Human Rights Forum (AEHRF). A former Naval Officer he served in Indian Navy for almost 32 years, where he commanded two warships. He has also served as the Executive Director of the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and worked with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). He has authored two books titled Balochistan in Turmoil: Pakistan at Cross Roads and Gilgit Baltistan and its Unending saga of Human Rights Violation and has also co-edited a book on Geopolitics of Himalayan region: Cultural, Political and Strategic Dimensions. 

Deeksha Goel is currently working as a Senior Research Fellow at India Foundation. Her research interests include Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and Development Financing in the IOR. Deeksha graduated as an Engineer specialising in Electronics and Communication and has a MBA in Finance. 

Siddharth Singh is a Senior Research Fellow at India Foundation. He has done his Masters in International Relations and M.Phil. in Indo-Pacific Studies from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His PhD research is on “Comparative Analysis of India and China`s Maritime Diplomacy in Indo-Pacific Region”. His area of research includes Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region, India`s Maritime Diplomacy and India`s engagements in Multilateral Institutions.