Somali piracy is repeatedly associated with the historical specter of Barbary. Indeed, piracy off the Horn of Africa has matched the spread of conflict and chaos that allow criminal elites to assume power. The world now fears Somalia has become a safe haven for terrorists who wish to wreck havoc on the developed world. Western policy towards Somalia focuses solely on the country's poverty-stricken Islamic population, which, with its proximity to the Arabian peninsula, seems to be a hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism and ripe for Islamist exploitation.

Martin Murphy, author of the definitive guide to modern maritime piracy and terrorism, examines whether state failure is a useful explanation for Somali piracy and whether violent Islamism might exploit modern piracy for its own gain. Murphy employs his critically-acclaimed approach to review the history, motivation, organization, criminal methods, and operational tactics of Somali piracy, from its initial manifestation in the mid-1990s to today. He links their activities and fortunes to the rise and fall of Somalia's political groups; explains how and why violent Islamists operate within Somalia; and follows the extent to which they can exploit maritime dimensions in the future. He concludes with a consideration of the various political and military solutions being used to meet these challenges and whether they will effectively resolve them.