International Straits: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Around 90% of international trade (in terms of tonnage) is carried out by sea, and these flows use the many natural or man-made straits (maritime and transoceanic canals). As both transverse and longitudinal passageways, straits play a fundamental role in maritime relations. This book takes a multidisciplinary and international approach to the Straits: legal, geographical, historical, environmental, economic and geopolitical. It examines their functions and the issues associated with them, both now and in the past, using specific examples: Artics, Dover, Gibraltar, Hormuz, Kerch, Malacca, Messina, Oresund, etc.

Contributors are: F. Lasserre, A. Choquet, N. Fau, A. Trentesaux ,S. Karagiannis, C. Henry, O. Delfour-Samama, M. Lehardy, F. Mynard, M. Lo Prete, T. Vaisset, F. Schneider, F. Fontrier, A. Marino, D. Gaurier, R. Thillard, A.M. Aldawish, C. Escudé, H. Dehouck, F. Charlet, S. Gupta, G. Guyetant, J-Y Reynaud, O. Averbuc, J-P. Geib, C. Roche, F. Davansant, and C. Gibout.

Catherine Roche, Ph.D., is Full professor at the Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale and researcher at the TVES laboratory. Her research has a specific focus on environmental law and marine renewable energies. She heads a research project entitled ‘Contemporary Challenges in the Straits’ (https://straits.univ-littoral.fr).

Frédéric Davansant, Ph. D., is an Associate Professor at the Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, and researcher at the LARJ Laboratory. He is the author of scientific publications about Maritime History dealing with Criminal Law, Admiralty Law and Military justice.

Christophe Gibout, Ph. D., is Full professor at the Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale and researcher at the TVES laboratory. His main research focuses on the governance of public spaces and the environment (e.g. major seaports, port cities, coastal areas, deserts), viewed through the prism of the social, cultural and economical practices that take place overthere.

François H. Guiziou, Ph. D., is a research fellow at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). He is a member of the IDEES-Le Havre laboratory. His research focuses on globalization, with a particular emphasis on maritime studies and maritime security.