Abstract
The starting point of any study of slavery is the question of how we ought to define it. Providing a definition is a theoretical exercise that demarcates which practices should be categorized as slavery. Theoretical constructs lean toward generalization, which tends to understate the diversity of practices and experiences that can be found in slavery. This difficulty is yet to be resolved. The terminology that is often employed to classify slavery today also appears to be elusive. Some of the key questions that surface in trying to define the term ‘contemporary forms of slavery’1 include: Is there a characteristic or attribute common to all practices falling under this term? Does slavery mean the same to all societies? Can we compare ‘contemporary slaves’ with ‘old slaves’?
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© 2010 Lorena Arocha
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Arocha, L. (2010). Theoretical Perspectives on Understanding Slavery: Past and Present Challenges. In: Wylie, G., McRedmond, P. (eds) Human Trafficking in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230281721_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230281721_3
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