Description
Book SynopsisThe suppression of piracy and maritime raiding was a keystone in the colonisation of Southeast Asia. This comparative study in colonial history explores how piracy was defined, contested and used to resist or justify colonial expansion, particularly from c.1850 to c.1920. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Trade Review'In Pirates of Empires, Stefan Eklöf Amirell provides a detailed, often vivid presentation of the European crackdown on piracy in Southeast Asia. A refreshingly complex take on both the undeniable brutality of piracy for indigenous populations and the cynical exploitation of this scourge to advance colonial rule.' Michael Miller, University of Miami
'This is a complex and engaging book; it crosses a good portion of Southeast Asia, and looks at the deep history of piracy in the region from a number of inter-locking angles. Solidly researched and provocative, it helps us to look at the phenomenon of piracy in new and fascinating ways.' Eric Tagliacozzo, Cornell University, New York
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Piracy in global and Southeast Asian history; 2. The Sulu Sea; 3. The Strait of Malacca; 4. Indochina; Conclusion; Epilogue: piracy and the end of empire.
