Full title in original language:
New Directions in Research on Human Trafficking
Education level:
University University (18+ years)Topic / subtopic:
Trafficking in persons / smuggling of migrants Criminal justice response to trafficking in personsTarget audience:
Professors,
Students,
Teachers / Lecturers,
Policy makers
Type of resource:
Publication / Article
Languages:
English
Region of relevance:
Global
Access:
open access
Individual authors:
Ronald Weitzer
Publication year:
2014
Published by:
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Copyright holder:
© The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Contact name and address:
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Contact website:
Key themes:
trafficking, human trafficking, human rights, trafficking in persons
Links:
Short description:
This article evaluates four popular claims regarding human trafficking’s international magnitude, trends, and seriousness relative to other illicit global activities. I find that the claims are neither evidence-based nor verifiable. Second, an argument is made for carefully conducted micro level research on trafficking. Several such studies are described, including the contributions to this volume of The Annals. The author argues for micro level research, which has advantages over grand, macro level claims—advantages that are both quantitative (i.e., identifying the magnitude of trafficking within a measurable context) and qualitative (i.e., documenting complexities in lived experiences)—and is better suited to formulating contextually appropriate policy and enforcement responses.