To understand the concept of globalisation, one has to recognize the process that led to globalisation. With the onset of industrialisation the focus changed, feudalism was replaced by modernity, whose aim was to create a functioning economy, and a solid profitable financial market, which led to capitalism. Sovereign states, increasingly moved towards nationwide financial and industrial markets. Due to the growing number and size of manufactures and extractive industries, mass employment was provided, which had a mayor influence on the defined class system at the time (Finday, 2005). The social middle class expanded and continued in a well defined class system. By the end of World War 2 modernity hit its peak and slowly changed into late modernity, which had its' beginnings in the early 70ies and could be found predominantly in advanced capitalist centres of the USA, Canada, Western Europe and Japan. Late modernity includes the progress from the political eras of colonisation, the economic eras of industrialisation and the social eras of states (Findlay,1999). Therefor the driving force for late modernity is the increase of labor power in modern capitalism (Melossi, 2003).
Table of Contents
1. Late Modernity and Globalisation
2. Globalisation and the movement of people
3. Human Trafficking
3.1 Definition and Process
4. Trafficking into prostitution
5. A feminist perspective on sex trafficking and the sex trade
6. Contemporary responses
6.1 ....beyond the state
6.2 ....within the state
6.3 .....below the state
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the complex intersection of globalisation, late modernity, and the rise of human trafficking within Europe. It specifically explores how migration policies, changing state roles, and shifting economic landscapes contribute to the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly women, in the sex industry, while evaluating the effectiveness of contemporary international and state-level responses.
- The impact of late modernity and globalisation on state sovereignty and migration control.
- The structural and proximate factors driving human trafficking and sex slavery.
- Feminist perspectives on prostitution, choice, and economic exploitation.
- Critique of international and European legal frameworks and border security systems (e.g., Schengen Information System).
- The role of non-governmental organisations and social welfare responses to human trafficking.
Excerpt from the Book
Trafficking into prostitution
In this essay we will focus mainly on young women and underage girls who are forced into sexual services and labour, so called sex trafficking. Furthermore we will concentrate on trafficking within Europe.
Young women are deceived by agencies into thinking that they will be working in legitimate jobs as innocent entertainers, maids or factory workers. They are recruited predominantly in eastern european countries, such as Romania, Belarus and Ukraine. According to a report from UNDOC from 2011, the capital of Ukraine, Odessa, is the most important centre for trafficking of women in Europe. There is evidence that recruitment operations are well organised and have a large transnational scope. As soon as these women arrive at their destinations, approximately 80 percent are coerced into the sex industry. Victims can be physically enslaved and imprisoned, this includes any forms of slavery and coercion, threats of physical violence, and may also include forced drug use and confiscation of travel documents etc. (Newman and Cameron, 2008). A not to be overlooked element of the exploitation process of sex trafficking victims, is that they are mostly given some of the money they generate. Victims have to often pay back debts, meaning debts to traffickers who payed their transportation etc.. Within this process victims rely on theirs pimps and abusive managers, for so-called protection and often no other forms of income are available to them.
Summary of Chapters
1. Late Modernity and Globalisation: This chapter contextualises the transition from industrial modernity to late modernity, highlighting how capitalism, technology, and surveillance reshape social relations and state functions.
2. Globalisation and the movement of people: This section examines how globalisation has accelerated international mobility, creating new challenges for state border control and leading to the securitisation of migration.
3. Human Trafficking: Provides a formal definition of human trafficking based on UN conventions and explores the interaction of social, economic, and political factors that create victim vulnerability.
3.1 Definition and Process: Details the specific legal definition of trafficking in persons and identifies core patterns of recruitment, transportation, and exploitation.
4. Trafficking into prostitution: Focuses on the mechanisms used to deceive and coerce women into the European sex industry, noting the roles of debt bondage and the fear of legal prosecution.
5. A feminist perspective on sex trafficking and the sex trade: Analyzes the debate among feminist scholars regarding whether prostitution is a matter of agency or inherent exploitation, while discussing the constraints on women's "choices."
6. Contemporary responses: Reviews the various efforts to address human trafficking through international treaties and transnational police cooperation.
6.1 ....beyond the state: Analyzes the effectiveness of UN protocols and EU conventions in creating international legal frameworks against trafficking.
6.2 ....within the state: Examines how national government policies and the legal status of prostitution influence the prevalence of trafficking in different European countries.
6.3 .....below the state: Highlights the essential role of NGOs and local social organizations in providing protection and advocacy for trafficking victims.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the necessity of moving beyond the criminalization of victims and calls for an integrated approach combining women's rights, economic opportunities, and strict anti-trafficking regulations.
Keywords
Globalisation, Late Modernity, Human Trafficking, Sex Slavery, Europe, Migration, Prostitution, Feminist Perspectives, Border Control, Exploitation, Transnational Crime, Human Rights, Poverty, Social Policy, Gender Discrimination
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the dynamics of human trafficking within Europe, specifically examining it as a consequence of globalised labor markets and changing migration policies under late modernity.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key themes include the sociological transition to late modernity, the politicisation of borders, the feminist debate on prostitution, and the effectiveness of current international legal responses to trafficking.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to understand how structural and proximate factors, such as poverty and restrictive immigration policies, interact to facilitate the growth of the human trafficking industry in Europe.
Which scientific or analytical methods are applied?
The work utilizes a qualitative literature analysis, synthesizing sociological theories (such as Giddens, Baumann, and Foucault) with international crime data and legal documents from the UN and EU.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical background of globalization, the definition of trafficking, the specific exploitation of women in the sex trade, and a multi-level evaluation of responses ranging from international treaties to local NGO activities.
Which keywords best characterize this academic study?
Keywords include Human Trafficking, Globalisation, Late Modernity, Sex Slavery, Migration, Feminist Perspective, and Transnational Crime.
How does the author interpret the relationship between illegal migration and trafficking?
The author argues that there is a dangerous overlap where trafficking victims are often treated as illegal immigrants by state authorities, which results in deportation rather than protection, thereby hindering the fight against trafficking.
What role does the "liberal feminist position" play in the author's argument?
The author aligns with the liberal feminist view that prostitution should be recognized as work to allow for better regulation and protection of sex workers' rights, while acknowledging the limitations of "choice" for victims of trafficking.
What specific impact does the Schengen Information System have on the problem?
The paper critiques the SIS for facilitating the tracking of mobile individuals, which often leads to the classification of vulnerable trafficked persons as "offenders" or "illegal immigrants" subject to deportation.
Why is the "victim vs. offender" distinction critical in this research?
The research emphasizes that current law enforcement often misidentifies victims as criminals; re-classifying them as victims of exploitation is deemed essential for effective long-term intervention.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bettina Purcell-Riederer (Autor:in), 2013, Human Trafficking and Globalisation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/209203
