Human Trafficking in the Era of Global Migration : Unraveling the Impact of Neoliberal Economic Policy

Inequality. Gender. Globalization. Corruption. Instability. These are factors we know matter when it comes to human trafficking. But does corruption work the same way in Cambodia as it does in Bolivia? Is it important for instability to be present with inequality to lead to human trafficking? Why do we typically see human trafficking flows in the same areas as migration flows? This book examines these questions by developing an integrated theoretical framework that draws from migration, feminist, and criminology scholars. Among the questions tackled by Sarah Hupp Williamson in this book are the following: How did the emergence of global economic policies from international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank contribute to the emergence of these conditions? How do these conditions combine in various ways in different countries creating unique pathways for human trafficking to flourish? What is the relationship that these human trafficking pathways share with migration flows? Using cross-national comparative and in-depth historical analysis, these questions are answered through case studies on Cambodia in Southeast Asia, Bolivia in South America, and The Gambia in Sub-Saharan Africa. The book argues that neoliberal economic policies imposed by international financial institutions contributed to the conditions which both drove migration and allowed human trafficking to flourish. Critiquing existing anti-trafficking policy, the book concludes that to truly be effective, anti-trafficking efforts must address the root causes creating these pathways that often place migrants in a context vulnerable to human trafficking. Front Cover Human Trafficking in the era of Global Migration: Unraveling the Impact of Neoliberal Economic Policy Copyright information Dedication Table of contents List of Figures and Tables Notes on the Author 1 Introduction Framing human trafficking Explaining human trafficking Globalization Economic inequality Gender inequality Racial and ethnic inequality Corruption Conflict Migration Goals of the book 2 Linking the Local and the Global: Understanding Human Trafficking Flows Introduction Theory from criminology Theory from migration Theory from feminism An integrated theoretical framework Applications to the field of human trafficking Conclusion Acknowledgments 3 The Pathways of Human Trafficking Flows Introduction Set-theoretic multi-method research Process tracing Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis Setting the stage for analysis Data sources Case selection Understanding the pathway solutions The pathways of high human trafficking flows The pathways of high emigration Conclusion 4 Neoliberal Colonialism and the Case of Cambodia Introduction Cambodia A brief history Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and economic dominance Corruption and privatization Weakened non-economic institutions Deepening inequality The role of regional migration Impact on human trafficking Conclusion 5 Neoliberal Accommodation and the Case of Bolivia Introduction Bolivia A brief history Globalization Unequal impacts The facilitation of corruption Globalization and its discontents A pathway for migration and human trafficking Conclusion 6 Neoliberal (In)stability and the Case of The Gambia Introduction The Gambia A brief history Some strings attached A peripheral position in a globalized world? Corruptible stability Impacts on economic and social conditions Migrating ‘the back way’ and human trafficking Conclusion 7 Conclusion Putting together the puzzle pieces: pathways to human trafficking Implications for researchers Implications for policy makers Final thoughts Appendix Data Human trafficking Economic dominance Globalization Inequality Corruption Social expenditures Conflict Migration Analysis Data calibration Testing necessity Parsimonious and complex solutions Testing another human trafficking outcome References Index Back Cover Factors such as inequality, gender, globalization, corruption, and instability clearly matter in human trafficking. But does corruption work the same way in Cambodia as it does in Bolivia? Does instability need to be present alongside inequality to lead to human trafficking? How do issues of migration connect? Using migration, feminist, and criminological theory, this book asks how global economic policies contribute to the conditions which both drive migration and allow human trafficking to flourish, with specific focus on Cambodia, Bolivia, and The Gambia. Challenging existing thinking, the book concludes with an anti-trafficking framework which addresses the root causes of human trafficking. This book explores the global social issues that contribute to human trafficking in three countries - Cambodia, Bolivia and The Gambia - using a new theoretical framework and innovative methodology that considers their similarities and unique histories