Soundings Papers: Combating Coercion Through Influence in The Maritime Sphere

This paper aims to understand coercion theory in an international framework, and thus how Australia can combat offensive compellence through influence in the Indo-Pacific. The first section will discuss maritime-based international theory that covers sea power and diplomacy, as well as focusing on coercion theory. As a result of this, a maritime coercion framework was created to unify various contested literature with a focus on the international rules-based order, differentiating offensive compellence, defensive compellence, deterrence and diplomacy. The second section will apply this framework to maritime events that have occurred across history after the creation of the United Nations Charter. This includes an analysis on the Battles of Yeonpyeong, the Kuwait invasion, Malacca Straits Patrol, and Operation Sumatra Assist. Thirdly, this paper will give two recommendations on how to combat offensive compellence in the current international system following a discussion on the current climate in the Indo-Pacific. The first recommendation states that the Royal Australian Navy with support from the Australian government needs to review and update Australia’s maritime strategy. Secondly, Australia needs to strengthen vulnerabilities in shipping routes by building alliances.