Navigating inter-agency collaboration and the integration of customs security : insights from the Brazilian case

Abstract

This study investigates the collaborative dynamics among armed forces and law enforcement agencies, as police departments and customs, emphasising their integral role in fortifying maritime borders and countering transnational threats through inter-agency and civil-military cooperation. With a focal lens on the Global South perspective, anchored in Brazil's experience, a neo-institutional framework is employed to analyse inter-agency cooperation policies and practices. Brazil's unique challenges, opportunities, and contributions to global maritime security efforts are illuminated through comparative patterns presented within Global South nations, unveiling commonalities and disparities. The paper emphasises practitioners' insights and geospatial analysis, employing a dual-method approach combining maritime security practices and geospatial analysis techniques to glean comprehensive insights into inter-agency cooperation and maritime security dynamics. The methodology conducts semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, data aggregation from open-source intelligence (OSINT), simulations and scenarios, and maritime security data. Proposing Brazil's proactive engagement as a regional leader, the study advocates for enhanced inter-agency collaboration by establishing tailored coordination mechanisms, capacity-building initiatives, and knowledge-sharing platforms. Looking ahead, a call for a comprehensive approach to maritime security in the Global South comes from applying long-range prospective methods and tools with participative and collaborative roles. That urges integrating economic development, environmental protection, and social inclusion agendas alongside traditional security measures. This study paves the way for a roadmap for bolstering maritime security cooperation, underscoring Brazil's pivotal role in spearheading regional initiatives for a safer maritime domain.