scholarly journals Self-education and Collective Learning: Forming a critical ‘modern slavery’ study group

2021 ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Maayan Niezna ◽  
Pankhuri Agarwal

This article describes the authors’ experience in forming an interdisciplinary online study group dedicated to collective learning on modern slavery and trafficking from a critical perspective. It proposes ideas for discussions and readings along with three main principles concerning the method and approach of creating such a group that can be relevant to researchers and practitioners. First, the creation of a safe and inspiring space, the dialogues it can enable, and the approach required to create such a space in an online setting; second, attempts to tackle the big questions rather than conclusions or completed work; and third, reflexivity concerning challenges of knowledge production and distribution that critical scholars of trafficking face. A discussion on labour exploitation and the concept of ‘work’ is used to demonstrate these principles.

2020 ◽  
pp. 026101832090431
Author(s):  
Stuart N. Hodkinson ◽  
Hannah Lewis ◽  
Louise Waite ◽  
Peter Dwyer

Abolishing ‘modern slavery’ has now achieved international policy consensus. The most recent UK initiative – the 2015 Modern Slavery Act (MSA) – includes amongst other aspects tougher prison sentencing for perpetrators and the creation of an independent anti-slavery commissioner to oversee its implementation. However, drawing on research into forced labour among people seeking asylum in England, this article argues that when considered alongside the UK government’s deliberate creation of a ‘hostile environment’ towards migrants, not least in the Immigration Acts of 2014 and 2016, state action to outlaw modern slavery is flawed, counter-productive and disingenuous. We show how the MSA focuses only on the immediate act of coercion between ‘victim’ and ‘criminal’, ignoring how the hostile state vulnerabilises migrants in ways that compel their entry into and continued entrapment within severe labour exploitation.


Politics ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 026339572096240
Author(s):  
Nick Turnbull ◽  
Rose Broad

Rhetoric is a way to explain policy problem framing by recognising the practical necessity to persuade audiences in contextual situations. Modern slavery and human trafficking is a complex and emotive problem, simplified through rhetorical demands to motivate an audience of supporters. This article analyses rhetoric by 212 UK anti-trafficking and anti-slavery non-government organisations (NGOs) to uncover rhetorical practices and their effects on policy framing, supplemented by archival research to compare past and present anti-slavery oratory. Our data show NGOs use rhetoric to motivate supporters and promote a humanitarian problem frame, in opposition to a state-driven security frame. Findings confirm other research in identifying an emphasis on female victims and on sexual over labour exploitation. Past and present rhetoric are equivalent in terms of liberal, Christian values (ethos) and appeals to pathos through sympathy for victims. Historical rhetoric is distinctive in arguing for the equal human status of slaves, whereas contemporary activists argue victims are denied agency. Contemporary rhetoric represses the question of migration, whereas past rhetoric is more deliberative. Rhetoric varies with the requirements of persuasion related to contextual distance, between unlike humans in the past, but in regard to geographical distance today.


Author(s):  
Catalina Cortes Severino

RESUMENLa relación entre memoria y democracia, promovida en las últimas décadas por algunos Estados, se basa en las ideas de “justicia”, “reconciliación” y “reparación” dentro de marcos planteados institucionalmente que buscan el consenso, la “normalización” y el “cierre” de la crisis que se ha vivido. Me interesa en particular acercarme desde una perspectiva crítica –a través de la función de las imágenes en la creación de sentido y producción de conocimiento– a este momento transicional para explorar los huecos, los residuos y las fallas del discurso de normalización social y política que lo componen.PALABRAS CLAVES Imagen-tiempo, memoria, violencia, procesos transicionales, políticas del tiempo y de lo visual.KAWAIKUNA MASKASPA SUGNEGTA KAUSAIMANDA SUGLLAPI Kai iskai kawachikuna llullai; kausai rurankuna kai watakunapi maikakuna Kawaspa imam rurangapkunkuna “ Allilla Kuusangapa tukuikuna” kunauramanda Tukuikunawa chasa ruranakuni kai rijú kawariska tukurrengapa. Nuka munare iachanga imasa cunawarra rurangapa kankuna, Kawangapa Atun llike, man ministikakunata sitaska imasam parlangapakankuna Tukui kunata.IMA SUTI RIMAI SIMI: Kawai- kaugsai- llullai- jiru kausai- kunaurra- tukui kawankuna.IMAGES IN THE SEARCH OF OTHER MEANINGS OF PRESENT HISTORY ABSTRACT The relationship between memory and democracy, promoted in recent decades by some governments, is based on the ideas of “justice”, “reconciliation” and “repair” within institutional frameworks that seek consensus, “normalization” and a “closure” for the crisis that has occurred. I am particularly concerned with approaching from a critical perspective –through the role of images in the creation of meaning and production of knowledge– this transitional moment, in order to explore the gaps, residues and failures in the discourse of social and political normalization that composes it.KEYWORDS Image-time, memory, violence, transitional processes, policies of time and the visual. t “Paisajes Afrocaucanos: la caña de azúcar, la finca tradicional y los afectos alimenticios”. Proyecto Imperativos Verdes Campesinos 2014 - 2015, CEEP - Centro de Estudios en Ecología Política. Fotografía: Camila CamachoIMAGES DANS LA RECHERCHE D’UN AUTRE SENS DE L’HISTOIRE DU PRÉSENT RÉSUMÉ La relation entre la mémoire et la démocratie, promue au cours des dernières décennies par certains états, est basée sur les idées de la «justice», la «réconciliation» et la «réparation» dans des cadres institutionnels qui recherchent le consensus, la «normalisation» et la « fin » de la crise qui a eu lieu. Je suis particulièrement intéressé par une approche à partir d’un point de vue critique –grâce à la fonction des images dans la création de sens et la production de connaissances– de cette période de transition pour explorer les interstices, les déchets et les échecs du discours social de la normalisation politique qui s’y trouve.MOTS CLÉS Image-temps, mémoire, violence, processus de transition, politiques du temps et du visuel.IMAGENS NA BUSCA DE OUTROS SENTIDOS DA HISTÓRIA DO PRESENTE RESUMO A relação entre memória e democracia, promovida nas últimas décadas por alguns Estados, se baseia nas idéias de “justicia”, (justiça), “reconciliación” (reconciliação) e “reparación” (reparação) dentro dos marcos planejados institucionalmente que procuram o consenso, a “normalización” (normalização) e o “cierre” (Fecho) da crise que se tem vivido. Interessa em particular aproximar-me a través da função das imagens na criação do sentido e produção de conhecimento a este momento transacional para pesquisar os buracos, os resíduos, e as falhas do discurso da normalização social e política que a compõem.PALAVRAS CHAVES Imagem-tempo, memória, violência, processos transacionais, políticas do tempo e do visual.


Author(s):  
Avetik E. Grigoryan

The history of educational activity and linking the education with research in the aerospace-related areas in Armenia is presented – all the way from the creation of an extra-curricular study group for school students dubbed the "AYAS" Aerospace Club to the foundation of the "AYAS" Aerospace Society.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S265-S265
Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar ◽  
Sara Mohsen ◽  
Oksana Zinchenko ◽  
Philip Verde ◽  
Kathleen Breslin ◽  
...  

AimsRecently, global-remote group studying has been made possible via digital video conferencing platforms. In preparation for the December 2020 MRCPsych part A exam, a study group was formed comprising 30 International Medical Gaduates (IMG) logging-in from different countries via 3 hour Zoom-study sessions hosted daily from 28th September until 12th December 2020 (1800-2100 GMT time). This study demonstrates the impact of online group study in preparation for the MRCPsych A exam for s via data collected through questionnaires.MethodThe data of the study were collected through the questionnaires given to the group study members containing a total of 17 questions, 5 of which were open-ended.The participants totalled 30 International Doctors who responded to an advertisement to form an online study group on Facebook. They logged-in for the sessions from seven different countries: Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, Ireland, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. The participants represented different working grades incuding experiences in psychiatry ranging from 0 to 5 years.Data were analysed using percentage. The answers given to the open-ended questions were each examined using descriptive interpretation methods.ResultThematic analysis demonstrated that online group study made learning faster and easier. 96.6% support using online study sessions for future exams citing that they fostered cooperation, respect for diverse opinions and motivation for regular studying. 93.1% and partly 6.9% found the experience enjoyable and enabled the cultivation of different ideas. Indeed, 89.7% relied on it as a big part of their preparation with 26 saying it contributed to their passing of the exam success.Almost three quarter of participants in the group also forged friendships and a sense of trust. It also became a platform for expressing opinions comfortably and developing communication and interpersonal skills.Different working hours and time zones represented a challenge with most linking in at odd hours. Cultural differences were ultimately accepted including aspects of delivery of information which made a few participants appear abrupt.ConclusionWith the ease in which social media connects us on a global scale, online study groups connecting IMGs from various backgrounds and diverse cultures not only makes exam preparations stimulating and easier to pass but also fosters interpersonal skills and connections that would be an asset in the long run.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 51-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin O'Brien

Consumers are the new activists in the fight against modern slavery, with awareness campaigns urging citizens to use their consumer power to demand an end to labour exploitation. The contribution of political, or ethical, consumerism campaigns to the trafficking narrative is examined in this article through an analysis of the characterisation of consumers and corporations in campaigns from SlaveryFootprint.org, Stop the Traffik UK, and World Vision Australia. This article argues that campaigns urging political consumerism depict consumers as the heroic rescuers of enslaved victims, and embed solutions to modern slavery within a culture of unquestioned capitalism. This approach may have the unintended consequence of sidelining victims from the trafficking story as the focus of the narrative becomes the product, rather than the victim, of labour exploitation.


Author(s):  
Genevieve LeBaron

This introductory Chapter provides an overview of the political, methodological, and ethical challenges of researching forced labour in the global economy tackled in this Volume. It argues that in spite of these challenges, researchers are pioneering fresh approaches to understanding the business of forced labour that are anchored in strong empirical methods, rather than outdated theoretical propositions or sensationalist newspaper headlines. This burgeoning and interdisciplinary body of research challenges conventional narratives about the nature and role of modern slavery. It reveals that rather than an individualised, randomly occurring human rights issue caused by the moral shortcomings and greed of unscrupulous employers, severe labour exploitation is a coherent and predictable feature of many sectors and regions within the global political economy. The methodological reflections contained within this Volume offer a resource for academics and practitioners seeking to understand forced labour, the factors that shape vulnerability to this phenomenon, and the variegated mechanisms through which businesses systemically profit from labour exploitation.


Author(s):  
Steve Case ◽  
Phil Johnson ◽  
David Manlow ◽  
Roger Smith ◽  
Kate Williams

This chapter examines the means by which different forms of knowledge are created in criminology and what it means to know about crime, with particular emphasis on the empirical research methods used by criminologists. It also discusses the complex interplay between subjectivity, supposition, and study in producing knowledge in criminology; the benefits and limitations of different research study methods on the creation of criminological knowledge; criminological theory as knowledge; and various research methods in criminology such as experiments, surveys, bservations, and secondary analysis. Finally, it considers how subjectivity, supposition, and study interact with, and impact on, understanding and knowledge production in criminology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-49
Author(s):  
Coretta Phillips

Modern slavery has received somewhat limited attention in social policy. Partially responding to this gap, while acknowledging the contested nature of the term ‘modern slavery’, this article makes the case for the primary and secondary analysis of ‘slave narratives’ which provide experiential and agential accounts by those directly harmed by forced labour, coerced sex work and other forms of exploitation. Analysis of a narrative interview with Sean, a (citizen-)victim of forced labour proved under s.71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, demonstrates the multifaceted nature of labour exploitation and its multiple, severe and long-lasting harms. That the form and structure of Sean’s narrative of forced labour resembles those used in the abolitionist cause against antebellum slavery points to a certain timeless essence to forced labour exploitation. The article concludes with implications for intervention.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document