Human Trafficking as a Weapon of War

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is now one of the most widespread criminal activities across the globe, demonstrated by the estimated 29.8 million persons thought to be currently enslaved worldwide. Despite growing political currency, resulting legislation and cross-organisational efforts, trafficking is still on the rise, demonstrating that an additional approach is required. This book argues that looking at THB as a weapon of war is a useful way of reframing how trafficking is conceptualised in order to assist our understanding of the motivations that incite armed non-state actors (ANSAs) to act. This lens enables the structural dynamics of THB to be examined within the broader sphere of war economies, whilst examining the political economy of trafficking as a useful way to conceptualise it further. The paper contends that only by identifying the root causes can THB be prevented. The book will be relevant to researchers, academics, policymakers, NGOs, CBOs, human rights activists and students, as well as all that are interested in human trafficking and development.