Exploring Communities of Practice for Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Opportunities and Constraints
By: Mikkel Ørum Andersen and Francois Vreÿ
References
- Abdallah, M., & Allotey-Pappoe, S. (2022). Reducing seablindness in the Gulf of Guinea: Leveraging the role of non-state actors. Paper presented at Enhancing Regional Research, Capacity Building and Convening of Stakeholders Towards a Safer Maritime Security Domain in the Gulf of Guinea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, Accra, Ghana.
- Adler, E. (2008). The spread of security communities: Communities of practice, self-restraint, and NATO’s post–Cold War transformation. European Journal of International Relations, 14(2), 195–230. 10.1177/1354066108089241
- Adler, E., Bremberg, N., & Sondarjee, M. (2024). Communities of practice in world politics: Advancing a research agenda. Global Studies Quarterly, 4(1), Article
ksad070 . 10.1093/isagsq/ksad070 - Africa Defence Forum (ADF). (2023, July 18). A decade of maritime security. Africa Defence Forum.
https://adf-magazine.com/2023/07/a-decade-of-maritime-security/ - Ali, K.-D. (2014). Maritime security cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea: Prospects and challenges [Doctoral dissertation, University of Wollongong]. University of Wollongong Thesis Collection. 10.1163/9789004301047
- Amoako, G. (2023, April 22). Ivory Coast joins Ghana to implement 2023 closed fishing season. Modern Ghana.
https://www.modernghana.com/news/1238123/ivory-coast-joins-ghana-to-implement-2023-closed.html - Ardichvili, A. (2008). Learning and knowledge sharing in virtual communities of practice: Motivators, barriers, and enablers. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 10(4), 541–554. 10.1177/1523422308319536
- Bourhis, A., Dubé, L., & Jacob, R. (2005). The success of virtual communities of practice: The leadership factor. The Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 3(1), 23–34.
- Bueger, C. (2013). Counter-piracy, communities of practice and new security alignments. Journal of Regional Security, 8(1), 49–62. 10.11643/issn.2217-995X131SPB27
- Bueger, C., & Edmunds, T. (2024). Understanding maritime security. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/oso/9780197767146.001.0001
- Bueger, C., Edmunds, T., & McCabe, R. (2019). Into the sea: Capacity-building innovations and the maritime security challenge. Third World Quarterly, 41(10), 1759–1775. 10.1080/01436597.2019.1660632
- Bueger, C., Hofius, M., & Edwards, S. (2024). Global ordering and the interaction of communities of practice: A framework for analysis. Global Studies Quarterly, 4(1), Article
ksad079 . 10.1093/isagsq/ksad079 - Bueger, C., & Mallin, F. (2023). Blue paradigms: Understanding the intellectual revolution in global ocean politics. International Affairs, 99(4), 1719–1739. 10.1093/ia/iiad095
- Chapman, B. (2021). Undersea cables: The ultimate chokepoint. FORCES Initiative: Strategy, Security and Social Systems, Paper 1, 1–46.
- Côrte-Real, J. (2022). Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea: Threats and challenges. Negócios Estrangeiros, 22, 61–72.
- Danso, K., & Allotey-Pappoe, S. (2021). Mapping Maritime Actors under the Yaoundé protocol: Establishing Mandates, Interrelationships, Caps and Prospects. Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center.
- Eggs, C. (2012). Trust building in a virtual context: Case study of a community of practice. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 10(3), 212–222.
- Fontainha, E., & Gannon-Leary, E. (2008). Communities of practice and virtual learning communities: Benefits, barriers and success factors.
https://ssrn.com/abstract=1018066 - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2020). The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2020: Sustainability in action. 10.4060/ca9229en
- Frascà, D., & Galantini, L. (2023). The issue of submarine cable security. In Towards a new European security architecture (pp. 51–62).
- Geall, S., Shen, X., Huang, W., & Zadek, S. (2023). Charting a blue future for cooperation between West Africa and China on sustainable fisheries. Stimson Center.
https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/final2_REPORT_Charting-a-Blue-Future_STIMSON-09-14-2023.pdf - Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance. (2023). Context and stakeholder analysis of maritime security and justice in the Gulf of Guinea: Final report.
- Hara, N., & Hew, K. F. (2007). Knowledge-sharing in an online community of health-care professionals. Information Technology & People, 20(3), 235–261. 10.1108/09593840710822859
- Hasan, S., & Hassan, D. (2016). Current arrangements to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea: An evaluation. Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, 47(2), 171–217.
- Hassan, D., & Hasan, S. (2017). Effectiveness of the current regimes to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea: An evaluation. African Journal of Legal Studies, 10(1), 35–65. 10.1163/17087384-12340014
- Hughes, J., Jewson, N., & Unwin, L. (Eds.) (2013). Communities of practice: Critical perspectives. Routledge. 10.4324/NOE0415364737
- Ifesinachi, K., & Nwangwu, C. (2015). Implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(21), 54–64.
- International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). (n.d.). Members list. Retrieved September 17, 2024, from
https://www.iscpc.org/about-the-icpc/member-list/ - Jacobsen, K. L., & Nordby, J. R. (2015). Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
- Kavanagh, C. (2023). Wading muddy waters: Subsea communication cables and responsible state behaviour. UNIDIR.
- Kerno, S. J., Jr. (2008). Limitations of communities of practice: A consideration of unresolved issues and difficulties in the approach. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 15(1), 69–78. 10.1177/1548051808317998
- Khan, A. S., & Neis, B. (2010). The rebuilding imperatives in fisheries: Clumsy solutions for a wicked problem? Progress in Oceanography, 87(1–4), 347–356. 10.1016/j.pocean.2010.09.012
- Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511815355
- Leal, W., & Baêta, A. (2006). The communities of practice in an innovative enterprise. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 1(3), 34–43.
- Liebetrau, J., & Bueger, C. (2024). Advancing coordination in critical maritime infrastructure protection: Lessons from maritime piracy and cybersecurity. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, 46, Article
100683 . 10.1016/j.ijcip.2024.100683 - Loss, L., Schons, C. H., Neves, R. M., Delavy, I. L., Chudzikiewicz, I. S., & Vogt, A. M. C. (2007).
Trust building in collaborative networked organizations supported by communities of practice . In L. M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, P. Novais, & C. Analide (Eds.), Establishing the foundation of collaborative networks (pp. 23–30). Springer. 10.1007/978-0-387-73798-0_3 - Milne, R., & Telling, O. (2024, November 20). Chinese vessel spotted where Baltic Sea cables were severed. Financial Times.
https://www.ft.com/content/383516a5-02db-46cf-8caa-a7b26a0a1bb2 - MMCC Zone F & Royal Danish Defence College. (2024). Communique from Maritime Action Platform I.
https://www.fak.dk/globalassets/fak/dokumenter/2024/-communique-maritime-action-platform-i-.pdf - Nasiri, H. (2024). Managing undersea pipeline damage: Strategies for prevention, response, and recovery. Ninth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Seismic Engineering, Iran.
- Okafor-Yarwood, I., Kadagi, N. I., Belhabib, D., & Allison, E. H. (2024). Technology and maritime security in Africa: Opportunities and challenges in the Gulf of Guinea. Marine Policy, 160, Article
105976 . 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105976 - Okafor-Yarwood, I., Walker, T., & Reva, D. (2021, February 1). Gulf of Guinea piracy: A symptom, not a cause, of insecurity. ISS Africa.
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/gulf-of-guinea-piracy-a-symptom-not-a-cause-of-insecurity - Pandey, S. K., & Bhushan, A. (2023). Submarine cables: Issues of maritime security, jurisdiction, and legalities. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 1(4), 117–132. 10.59324/ejtas.2023.1(4).13
- Pedrozo, R. (2025). Safeguarding submarine cables and pipelines in times of peace and war. International Law Studies, 106, 45–84.
- Penfold, P. (2010). Virtual communities of practice: Collaborative learning and knowledge management. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (pp. 482–485).
IEEE . 10.1109/WKDD.2010.70 - Porri, F., McConnachie, B., van der Walt, K. A., Wynberg, R., & Pattrick, P. (2023). Eco-creative nature-based solutions to transform urban coastlines, local coastal communities, and enhance biodiversity through the lens of scientific and Indigenous knowledge. Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures, 1, Article
e17 . 10.1017/cft.2023.17 - Roberts, J. (2006). Limits to communities of practice. Journal of Management Studies, 43(2), 623–639. 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2006.00618.x
- Schandorf, S. O. (2024). Reimagining counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea: Lessons from the theory of infrastructure for coordination and information sharing. African Security Review, 33(4), 403–419. 10.1080/10246029.2024.2373110
- Sethi, A. (2017). Communities of practice in development: A relic of the past or sign of the future? Knowledge Management for Development Journal, 13(3), 4–21.
- Siebels, D. (2020). Maritime security in East and West Africa (Vol. 13). Springer International Publishing. 10.1007/978-3-030-30310-6
- Stellenbosch University, Royal Danish Defence College, & Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training School. (2024). Communique from Maritime Security Conference 2024.
https://www.fak.dk/globalassets/fak/dokumenter/2024/-10---september-2024---marsec-conference---communique-.pdf - TeleGeography. (2025). Submarine cable map.
https://www.submarinecablemap.com/ - Ukeje, C., & Ela, M. (2013). African approaches to maritime security—The Gulf of Guinea (Peace and Security Series No. 11). Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/nigeria/10398.pdf - Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice. Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511803932
- Wheeler, N. J. (2012). Trust-building in international relations. Peace Prints: South Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 4(2), 1–13.
- Williams, M. (2001). In whom we trust: Group membership as an affective context for trust development. Academy of Management Review, 26(3), 377–396. 10.2307/259183
- Wingrin, D. (2024, September 10). Maritime security conference in Stellenbosch highlights urgent need for regional cooperation. DefenceWeb.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/african-news/maritime-security-conference-in-stellenbosch-highlights-urgent-need-for-regional-cooperation/ - World Bank. (2019). Climate change and marine fisheries in Africa: Assessing vulnerability and strengthening adaptation capacity. World Bank.
- Yücel, H. (2021). Sovereignty and transnational cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea: How a network approach can strengthen the Yaoundé architecture. Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies, 4(1), 146–157. 10.31374/sjms.56
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31374/sjms.396 | Journal eISSN: 2596-3856
Language: English
Page range: 521 - 536
Submitted on: Feb 27, 2025
Accepted on: Dec 1, 2025
Published on: Dec 16, 2025
Published by: Scandinavian Military Studies
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
© 2025 Mikkel Ørum Andersen, Francois Vreÿ, published by Scandinavian Military Studies
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.