Feminism, Prostitution And The State: The Politics Of Neo-abolitionism (routledge Studies In Gender And Global Politics)

"This edited volume focuses on charting the rise of neo-abolitionism and offering a critique of the idea, its logics and consequences. A model of state policy which aims to abolish prostitution through legislation, Neo-abolitionism criminalises the buyer of sex but not the seller. It is currently law in Sweden and other Nordic states and dominates the framing of policy debates in many other Western liberal contexts. Pressure for adoption of this policy has come from radical feminists who understand prostitution and sex trafficking as a form of violence against women. This volume argues that this convergence between radical feminism and state's interests arises from the emergence of, on the one hand, 'governance feminism' which seeks to have its ideals implemented through 'top-down sovereigntist means', and on the other hand, state's interests in legitimising stricter border controls and law enforcement responses in relation to transnational organised criminality, 'illegal' migration, and security. Based around a series of country case studies each chapter will explore the politics surrounding the emergence of neo-abolitionism and its trajectory through those polities, whether the paradigm has been adopted, rejected or is still under debate. The volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of Social and Public Policy, Gender and Women's Studies, Politics and International Relations and Critical Legal Studies/Criminology"--Provided by publisher Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Introducing neo-abolitionism: definition, drivers and debates -- The drivers of neo-abolitionism -- Structure of the book -- Note -- References -- 1. Neo-abolitionism and transnational advocacy networks: Globalising an idea -- Introduction -- Moral entrepreneurs and the lifecycle of international norms -- Transnational neo-abolitionism in the late-twentieth century -- The Palermo Protocol: a first example of neo-abolitionist lobbying in action -- The European Parliament: a second example of neo-abolitionist lobbying in practice -- The harmful consequences of transnationalising neo-abolitionism -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 2. From contested to consensus: Swedish politics on prostitution and trafficking -- Introduction -- Situating the Swedish welfare state -- The history of prostitution and the state -- Neo-abolitionism: prostitution as structural gender oppression -- Parliamentary debates pre and post 2000: changing discourse -- The final test - everybody's favourite legislation -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Public papers -- 3. The Netherlands: Analysing shifts and continuities in the governing of sexual labour -- Introduction -- The 2000 lifting of the ban on brothels and its implementation: concerns, rationale and effects -- The gradual encroachment on legal sex work after legalisation -- Current reforms: growing neo-abolitionist tendencies -- Agents of neo-abolitionism -- International pressures -- Political parties -- Influences on public opinion -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- 4 Strange confluences: Radical feminism and evangelical Christianity as drivers of US neo-abolitionism -- Introduction -- History of US prostitution regimes and feminist prostitution reform This Edited Volume Focuses On Charting The Rise Of Neo-abolitionism And Offering A Critique Of The Idea, Its Logics And Consequences. A Model Of State Policy Which Aims To Abolish Prostitution Through Legislation, Neo-abolitionism Criminalises The Buyer Of Sex But Not The Seller. It Is Currently Law In Sweden And Other Nordic States And Dominates The Framing Of Policy Debates In Many Other Western Liberal Contexts. Pressure For Adoption Of This Policy Has Come From Radical Feminists Who Understand Prostitution And Sex Trafficking As A Form Of Violence Against Women. This Volume Argues That This Convergence Between Radical Feminism And State's Interests Arises From The Emergence Of, On The One Hand, 'governance Feminism' Which Seeks To Have Its Ideals Implemented Through 'top-down Sovereigntist Means', And On The Other Hand, State's Interests In Legitimising Stricter Border Controls And Law Enforcement Responses In Relation To Transnational Organised Criminality, 'illegal' Migration, And Security. Based Around A Series Of Country Case Studies Each Chapter Will Explore The Politics Surrounding The Emergence Of Neo-abolitionism And Its Trajectory Through Those Polities, Whether The Paradigm Has Been Adopted, Rejected Or Is Still Under Debate. Edited By Eilís Ward And Gillian Wylie. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction: Introducing Neo-abolitionism: Definition, Drivers and Debates [Eilís Ward and Gillian Wylie] Chapter 1: Neo-abolitionism and transnational advocacy networks: globalizing an idea [Gillian Wylie] Chapter 2: From Contested to Consensus: Swedish Politics on Prostitution and Trafficking [Yvonne Swanström] Chapter 3: The Netherlands: Analyzing shifts and continuities in the governing of sexual labour [Silke Heumann, Sara Vida Coumans, Tamar Shiboleth & Marieke Ridder] Chapter 4: Strange Confluences: Radical feminism and evangelical Christianity as drivers of US neo-abolitionism [Crystal A. Jackson, Jennifer J. Reed and Barbara G. Brents] Chapter 5: The Irish Parliament and Prostitution Law Reform: A Neo-Abolitionism Shoe-in? [Eilís Ward] Chapter 6: Almost Abolitionism: The Peculiarities of Prostitution Policy in England and Wales [Anna Carline and Jane Scoular] Chapter 7: Against the Trend: Resistance to Neo-abolitionism in Australian Anti-trafficking Policy Debates [Erin O’Brien] Chapter 8: In search of a fair and free society: the regulation of sex work in New Zealand [Gillian Abel] Conclusion: Carceral feminism, the state and the sex worker in a globalised era. Whose Power? [Eilís Ward and Gillian Wylie]