Smuggling the State Back In: Agents of Human Smuggling Reconsidered

Abstract

Compares two cases of smuggling -- migration from Ecuador to the US via paid smugglers & the trafficking of girls/women from Burma (Myanmar) to be slaves at brothels in Thailand -- to challenge explanations of human trafficking as a recent illicit activity in transnational crime made possible by globalization, or as exploitation of innocent migrants by organized crime. Instead, it is argued that increased human smuggling is largely the result of historical actions by politicians/state actors in both the sending & receiving nations, & the varied smuggling operations are deeply integrated into regional social structures. Analysis of the two cases shows that, in spite of many contrasts, they both require considerable tacit & active complicity by individuals in the sending & receiving nations. Transnational organized crime was not shown to play an important role in either case; the smugglers were integrated into the social fabric; & their operations were aided by a network of recruiters, middlemen, government/law officials, & financiers. The need to explore the broader historical-sociological dimensions of human smuggling is discussed. 46 References. J. Lindroth