Pirates, Plunder and Politics

May 2011
Meha Lodha
University of Wroclaw

Essay Question

The pirates of the “Golden Age” in the Caribbean were unique historically in their
composition of an alternative social structure. Can Somali pirates be seen in the same
light? Why or why not?

Introduction

The Golden Age of Piracy refers to the practice of piracy in the North Atlantic in
the early 18th century.1 The Golden Age pirates developed an autonomous, radically
democratic, anarchistic form of social organization that stood as a challenge to the social
order at that time.2 Somali pirates are new-age pirates who have been active in and
around the Gulf of Aden in the horn of Africa since the 1990s. They are considered a
product of anarchy as they openly defy the international community by hijacking
commercial ships for ransom. In this essay, I bring about some vital aspects of the social
structure of the Golden Age pirates and compare them with the organization and social
structure of Somali pirates.

1
Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization of piracy in the ‘golden
age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2): 169–192 2007 Sage Publications
2
Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization of piracy in the ‘golden
age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2): 169–192 2007 Sage Publications
Revolt, Rebellion and Revenge

Nearly all Golden Age pirates had a sailing background and a majority came from
captured merchantmen as volunteers.3 It is evident from the works of Marcus Rediker
that piracy in the form of an alternate social organization came as a rebellious reaction to
the atrocities that sailors on merchant ships and the navy faced in the form of very poor
working and living conditions. In effect, the pirates revolted against not just the injustices
of working on merchant ships and the navy but also European social norms like the
family, the nation state, slavery, colonization and mercantile capitalism.4 Indeed, several
historians have argued that once free from the discipline and domination of their previous
employment one of the main motivators for a pirate was not profit but revenge,
particularly upon merchant captains.5

Similarly, piracy in Somalia had emerged as a revolt against the conniving forces
in the neighbouring countries and the Western world that used the opportunity of the fall
of the Somali Government in 1991 to steal Somalia’s food supply and use their sea as a
dumping arena for nuclear wastes.6 The first pirates were simply angry fishermen who
boarded these foreign vessels and demanded a "fee." But as the illegal fishing persisted,
some early pirates banded together and called themselves "coast guards." They claimed to
be looking after Somalia's territorial integrity until the government could pull itself back
together.7 But today, piracy in Somalia has intensified with criminal gangs dominating
the piracy trade and systematically torturing hostages, including locking them in
freezers.8 Hence, it seems that the objective has shifted from revenge to financial gains.

3
Rediker, Marcus; Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American Pirates, 1716
to 1726; The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol. 38, No. 2. (Apr., 1981), pp. 203-227
4
Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization of piracy in the ‘golden
age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2): 169–192 2007 Sage Publications
5
Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization of piracy in the ‘golden
age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2): 169–192 2007 Sage Publications
6
The Independent - Johann Hari: You are being lied to about pirates
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-you-are-being-lied-to-about-
pirates-1225817.html Accessed Date: 16th May 2011
7
AXE D. 10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SOMALI PIRATES. June 2009;(513):31-33
8
Gatsiounis, Ioannis; SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES. "Ruthless new breed of Somali pirates
craves riches, not revenge." Washington Times, The (DC) (2011): 1
“Little Kingdoms” Vs Community Based Piracy

Although the pirates of the Golden Age rejected the matrix of state, family and
capital this does not mean that their lives had no organizing principles or forms of
community. The ever present threat of death meant that an individual pirate crew had a
very tight bond. Their lives literally depended upon each other.9 Each ship was "a little
kingdom" whose captain held a near-absolute power which he often abused. Peace time
wages for sailors were consistently low between 1643 and 1797; fraud and irregularities
in the distribution of pay were general. Almost without exception, pirates came from the
lowest social classes. They were, "desperate Rogues" who could have little hope in life
ashore. These traits served as bases of unity when men of the sea decided, in search of
something better, to become pirates.10

On the other hand, although one report suggests that Somali pirates are driven by
clan leadership on a small scale with minimal funding,11 another source implores that
Somali piracy is a community based activity. They are organized militias with informants
in foreign ports, and networks of ransom negotiators, money launderers, and arms
runners abroad.12 "Piracy-related business has become the main profitable economic
activity in our area and as locals we depend on their output," said Mohamed Adam, the
town's deputy security officer. "The district gets a percentage of every ransom from ships
that have been released, and that goes on public infrastructure, including our hospital and
our public schools."13

9
Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization of piracy in the ‘golden
age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2): 169–192 2007 Sage Publications
10
Rediker, Marcus; Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American Pirates, 1716
to 1726; The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol. 38, No. 2. (Apr., 1981), pp. 203-227
11
Carmel S. THE BIG MYTH OF SOMALI PIRATES. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. December
2010;136(12):30-35
12
Helfman, Tara, and Dan O'Shea. "Terrorism and Piracy: The New Alliance." Commentary 131.2 (2011):
30
13
Reuters - Somali sea gangs lure investors at pirate lair http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/12/01/us-
somalia-piracy-investors-idUSTRE5B01Z920091201 Accessed Date: 16th May 2011
Pirate Gang Organization

The social order of the pirates of the Golden Age was a rough improvised, but
effective egalitarianism that placed authority in the collective hands of the crew. Pirate
ships functioned under the terms of written articles, a contract drawn up at the beginning
of a voyage or upon election of a new captain, and agreed to by the crew.14 Although
there was a pirate captain, he was elected by and answerable to the crew. The captain’s
authority was only absolute during battle or in pursuit of a target.15

To prevent the misuse of authority, countervailing powers were designated for the
quartermaster, who was elected to protect the interest of the crew. This containment of
authority within a dual executive was a distinctive feature of social organizations among
pirates. The decisions that had the greatest bearing on the welfare of the crew were
generally reserved to the council, a body usually including every man on the ship. The
decision made by this body constituted the highest authority on a pirate ship: even the
boldest captain dare not challenge a council’s mandate.16

The articles regulated discipline aboard the ship. Many misdeeds were accorded
“what Punishment the captain and majority of the company shall think fit”. For
maintaining order - “No striking one another on board, but every man’s quarrel to be
ended on shore at sword and pistol.” By taking such conflicts off the ship and sea, this
practice promoted harmony in the crowded quarters below decks. Men who were
incorrigibly disruptive or who transgressed important rules were marooned. Execution
was the ultimate method of maintaining order.17

14
Rediker, Marcus; Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American Pirates, 1716
to 1726; The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol. 38, No. 2. (Apr., 1981), pp. 203-227
15
Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization of piracy in the ‘golden
age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2): 169–192 2007 Sage Publications
16
Rediker, Marcus; Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American Pirates, 1716
to 1726; The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol. 38, No. 2. (Apr., 1981), pp. 203-227
17
ibid
 Somali pirate gangs have some degree of organization and leadership and may be
organized along clan lines or upon business models. Pirate gangs have bosses or
‘masterminds’.18As of 2008, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) identified four
main piracy gangs operating in the trade route along the Somali coast. They are:

The National Volunteer Coast Guard (NVCG), commanded by Garaad Mohamed,

is said to specialize in intercepting small boats and fishing vessels around
Kismayu on the southern coast.

The Marka group, under the command of Sheikh Yusuf Mohamed Siad (also
known as Yusuf Indha'adde), is made up of several scattered and less organized
groups operating around the town of Marka.

The third significant pirate group is composed of traditional Somali fishermen
operating around Puntland and referred to as the Puntland Group.

The Somali Marines are the most powerful and sophisticated of the pirate groups.
Led by warlord Abdi Mohamed Afweyne, the Somali Marines has a military
structure, with a fleet admiral, admiral, vice admiral and a head of financial
operations.19

According to another source, the operations of a Somali pirate gang include a

commander-in-chief who is also the sole financial banker. This gang leader rarely
appears aboard a ship, choosing to issue commands to subordinates from his
headquarters. On board the hijacked ship, authority is exercised by his deputy who is also
the gang’s interpreter. Somali pirate gangs are organized into attackers (those who carry
out the hijacking) and holders (guards who board and watch over hijacked ships). The
bestowing of gifts – the pirate equivalent of performance-linked bonuses – is
commonplace across many pirate groups, and SUVs like Land Cruisers are a typical
choice. Purchases made by attackers are carefully noted by the gang’s accountants who
also act like underwriters and assure creditors that their money will be paid when the
ransom arrives. Another specialized crew member is incharge of the logistical task of

18
Guilgfoyle, Douglas. "THE LAWS OF WAR AND THE FIGHT AGAINST SOMALI PIRACY:
COMBATANTS OR CRIMINALS?." Melbourne Journal of International Law 11.1 (2010): 141-153
19
GlobalSecurity.org http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pirates.htm Accessed Date: 16th
May 2011
keeping the hijacked ship’s holders supplied with drugs. The pirates have their own
cooking staff which includes a cook and an assistant.20 This also shows that leadership
vests solely with the commander-in-chief of the pirate gang who rarely boards ships.

Dividing the Spoils

In the Golden Ages, the distribution of the pirate’s plunder was regulated
explicitly by the ship’s article, which allocated booty according to skills and duties.
Captain and quartermaster received between one and one-half and two shares; gunners,
boatswains, mates, carpenters, and doctors, one and one-quarter or one and one-half; all
others got one share each. This reduced the disparity between the top and bottom of the
scale. This egalitarian scheme indicates that the Golden Age pirates did not consider
themselves wage labourers but rather risk-sharing partners.21 A portion of the booty went
into a “common fund” to provide for the men who sustained injury of lasting effect. By
this welfare system pirates attempted to guard against debilities caused by accidents, to
protect skills, and to promote loyalty within the group.22

A UN report based on information gathered from Somali pirates based in the

north-eastern village of Eyl, reveals some interesting information about how the ransom
spoils are divided:

Maritime militia, pirates involved in actual hijacking - 30%

Ground militia (armed groups who control the territory where the pirates
are based) - 10%

Local community (elders and local officials) - 10%

Financier - 20%

Sponsor - 30%

20
Financial Times - Pirates, Inc http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e5f60614-7d23-11df-8845-
00144feabdc0.html#axzz1McnfievS Accessed Date: 17th May 2011
21
Rediker, Marcus; Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-American Pirates, 1716
to 1726; The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol. 38, No. 2. (Apr., 1981), pp. 203-227
22
ibid
 The UN report found the payments are shared virtually equally between the
maritime militia, although the first pirate to board the ship gets a double share or a
vehicle. Compensation is paid to the family of any pirate killed during the operation. The
breakdown shows how ransom money trickles down to many sections of Somali society.
Government officials and the armed groups that control different parts of the country all
get their share too.23

Conclusion

It is clear from the comparison of Caribbean pirates of the Golden Age with the
Somali pirates of today that though there are some similarities in the social organization,
there are striking differences.

Like the Golden Age pirates who seeked to revolt against the norms of state,
society, church and family, Somali pirates commenced their activities in the name of
revolt and revenge but against perpetrators of injustices in their sea. Somali piracy is
community based since the effort and spoils are shared by the pirates with the Somali
state and society.

Both Golden Age piracy and Somali piracy had/have organizational structures
where work was/is divided based on skills. But unlike the pirates of the Golden Age
where the captain did not have absolute power, the leaders of Somali pirate gangs seem to
exercise absolute command over their subordinates. Loot sharing of pirates in the Golden
Age was shared among the pirates based on skills and duties. A welfare fund was also
available for pirates who suffered lasting injuries. Somali pirates on the other hand, share
their loot not only with the gang but also with the local community and officials. Families
of pirates who die in combat are compensated.
To conclude, the Somali pirates have created a social structure by engaging in activities
considered unlawful by the international community but their social organization

23
BBC News – Chasing the Somali Piracy Money Trail http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8061535.stm
Accessed Date - 10th May 2011
encompasses their society and state who benefit directly or indirectly from the pirate
operations. This shows that with regards to social organization, Somali pirates can
exactly not be compared in the same light as the pirates of the Golden Age.

Bibliography

AXE D. 10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SOMALI PIRATES. June

2009;(513):31-33

Carmel S. THE BIG MYTH OF SOMALI PIRATES. U.S. Naval Institute
Proceedings. December 2010;136(12):30-35

Land, Chris; Flying the black flag: Revolt, revolution and the social organization
of piracy in the ‘golden age’ Management and Organizational History Vol 2(2):
169–192 2007 Sage Publications

Gatsiounis, Ioannis; SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES. "Ruthless new
breed of Somali pirates craves riches, not revenge." Washington Times, The (DC)
(2011): 1

Guilgfoyle, Douglas. "THE LAWS OF WAR AND THE FIGHT AGAINST
SOMALI PIRACY: COMBATANTS OR CRIMINALS?." Melbourne Journal of
International Law 11.1 (2010): 141-153

Helfman, Tara, and Dan O'Shea. "Terrorism and Piracy: The New Alliance."
Commentary 131.2 (2011): 30

Rediker, Marcus; Under the Banner of King Death": The Social World of Anglo-
American Pirates, 1716 to 1726; The William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd Ser., Vol.
38, No. 2. (Apr., 1981), pp. 203-227

BBC News – Chasing the Somali Piracy Money Trail
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8061535.stm Accessed Date - 10th May 2011

Financial Times - Pirates, Inc http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e5f60614-7d23-
11df-8845-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1McnfievS Accessed Date: 17th May 2011

GlobalSecurity.org http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/pirates.htm
Accessed Date: 16th May 2011

Reuters - Somali sea gangs lure investors at pirate lair
http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/12/01/us-somalia-piracy-investors-
idUSTRE5B01Z920091201 Accessed Date: 16th May 2011

The Independent - Johann Hari: You are being lied to about pirates
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-
you-are-being-lied-to-about-pirates-1225817.html Accessed Date: 16th May 2011