"But pirates were not known for being the most orderly people.Maybe. Maybe not. This is a rather fanciful read, although, no doubt, somewhat grounded in reality.
How did ruffians who thought nothing of murder work together to relieve massive armed merchant vessels of their goods? And how could one pirate be sure his hard work wouldn’t simply be stolen by a rival, or expropriated by the Captain?
Carribean piracy was effective and profitable, in short, because they formed an effective legal system. Pirate ships were like tiny floating governments.
And while pirates were clearly horrible to outsiders, internally, they actually had a fair and efficient system of governance.
Each ship would put together their own set of rules or articles. These essentially formed the government aboard each ship.
In the book Legal Systems Very Different From Our Own by David Friedman, Peter T. Leeson and David Skarbek, a typical set of articles serves as an example."
Life aboard a 18th century sailing vessel was harsh, unforgiving, and often deadly; particularly a pirate ship where murder, theft, rape, and pillage are resume enhancements. And being a sociopath possibly guaranteed one to be Captain.
It's rather simplistic to believe in a broad stereotype about an 'efficient system of governance' when it comes to a boatload of violent, thieving vagabonds. They don't strike me as champions of democracy. I dare say the the boot knife, cutlass, flintlock, or yard rope kept the vendettas, mutinies, and general disorder in check more than some 'pirate's code.'
H/t: Woodpile Report
