My research investigates 19th-century Indian-Ocean piracy and what it means for the Pax Britannica, the notion that British Imperial dominance and liberal free trade fostered peace. Combining the depth of modern cultural history with the rigour of statistical methods enables us to scrutinise the extent of the Pax Britannica. This research analyses journalistic reports from British colonial cities, proceedings from the High Court of Admiralty, and fluctuating maritime insurance rates. I ask questions like how did ship owners mitigate the risks of piracy? How did insurance providers account for piracy? And how did piracy impact risk? This also informs contemporary arguments about economic interventionism, drawing on thinkers like Thomas Piketty and Ha-Joon Chang. Ultimately, the study will reveal more about Indian Ocean piracy, its economic significance on the British metropole and world-system, and the extent of the ‘Pax Britannica’, while underscoring the enduring relevance of historical narratives in shaping modern political and economic discourse.
