Geopolitical Scenarios, from the Mare Liberum to the Mare Clasum: The High Sea and the Case of the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

The usual rules of maritime and oceanic spaces were stated during the course of years in order to lead to two practices: open waters (Mare Liberum) and closed waters (Mare Clausum). From 1945 to 1982, the political geography of the sea founded expression in a general movement of rush on the high sea. Born of Montego Bay Convention, the new Law of the Sea implemented the principle of 200 mile zone. The enforcement of this principle within the Mediterranean Basin would transform it into a maritime space without high sea. At present, the Mediterranean dealts with an increasing militarization. May Mare Nostrum become a Mare Clausum?