Perpetrator-Centric Strategies for Addressing Modern Slavery

Author: Clarke, Matthew

Abstract: When viewed through the lens of social movement theory, recent initiatives aimed at eradicating modern slavery have given insufficient attention to the role of the social movement’s primary target, namely the perpetrators of modern slavery. The existence of this disparity between social movement theory and anti-slavery practice is supported by global survey results from 147 anti-slavery organizations. After arguing for the importance of anti-slavery strategies that attempt to change perpetrator behaviour, this article introduces the concept of perpetrator vulnerability. The article proposes a matrix of perpetrator-centric interventions as the basis for future research and anti-slavery practice, in order to fill the identified disparity.

Keywords: human trafficking, modern slavery, perpetrators, social movement theory, targets