Citation

Risley A. J. Women Polit. Pol. 2015; 36(2): 213-238.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1554477X.2015.1019278

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The U.S. government has implemented an ambitious set of policies designed to combat human trafficking and sex trafficking in women and girls in particular. This article argues that anti-trafficking discourse and policy can be understood as a project to sustain and strengthen U.S. power. This power has been wielded through the use of foreign aid, which influences the actions of both state and non-state actors overseas. Existing policies reinforce unilateralism and executive-branch dominance. Policymakers have also used gender strategically to moralize their actions and assert global leadership on this issue. Gender is thus deployed to serve U.S. interests.

Keywords: Human trafficking

Language: en