Human trafficking and the modern-day slave trade in Southeast Asia : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Slavery has flourished in the modern world because of the growing global economy. In the name of producing cheap products and under the guise of free market capitalism, slavery continues to be profitable. In addition, the ease of transportation between countries makes it much easier for slaves to be smuggled between countries and easier for tourists to frequent sex slaves. Furthermore, modernization continues to adversely affect impoverished people because governments have turned to choose economic advancement over sustainable livelihoods. Especially in Southeast Asia, the government emphasizes cash crops, and because of this, traditional kinship systems are dissolving. Since individuals have to compete on a global scale to sell their goods, they are willing to sell for low prices and then cannot help their extended families in times of hardship and must resort to desperate measures, including slavery. This paper provides information as to why slavery occurs and proposes ways in which governments, non-governmental organizations, and the average person can work together to eradicate slavery during this generation's lifetime.