The Blue Economy, Fisheries and the Political Dynamics of Regionalism

The Blue Economy, Fisheries and the Political Dynamics of Regionalism examines regionalism, maritime governance, and political economy in the Western Indian Ocean, focusing on Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, and the Comoros.

While regional cooperation among small-island and coastal states is often assumed to produce political convergence and stronger collective diplomacy, this book argues that the Western Indian Ocean has instead developed a fragmented but durable form of regionalism, shaped by uneven maritime incorporation, asymmetrical development, and external geopolitical engagement. The book draws on fisheries governance, maritime security, blue economy policy, infrastructure development, and regional diplomacy, analysing how institutions such as the Indian Ocean Commission and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission have expanded technical cooperation without generating deep political integration. It explores the role of tuna fisheries, maritime logistics, donor-supported governance, external powers, and ocean capitalism in reshaping the regional political economy.

Combining political economy, regionalism theory, and maritime governance scholarship, the book develops the concept of ‘politically thin regionalism’ to explain how regional governance systems can become increasingly institutionalised while underlying inequalities and fragmented sovereignty persist.

The Blue Economy, Fisheries and the Political Dynamics of Regionalism will appeal to scholars and students specialising in small-island states, ocean governance, maritime geopolitics, and regional integration in the Global South.