The overarching objective of this volume is to discuss and critique the legal regulation of human trafficking in national and transnational context. Specifically, discussion is needed not only with regard to the historical and philosophical points of departure for any criminalisation of trafficking, but also, regarding the societal and social framework, the empirical dimension such as existing statistics in the area, and the need for more data. The book combines descriptive and normative analyses of the crime of trafficking in human beings from a cross-legal perspective. Notwithstanding the enhanced interest for human trafficking in politics, the public and the media, a critical perspective such as the one pursued herewith has so far been largely absent. Against this background, this approach allows for theoretical findings to be addressed by pointing out and elaborating different, interdisciplinary conflicts and inconsistencies in the regulation of human trafficking. The book discusses the phenomenon of human trafficking critically from various angles, giving it ‘shape’ and showing how it comes to life in the legal regulation.

This collection is an excellent addition to burgeoning scholarship on human trafficking and both the editors and the authors of the individual chapters should be commended for the impressive levels of research that has evidently been devoted to an incredibly important subject. -- D. Doyle, University of Maynooth * Leiden Journal of International Law *

Rita Haverkamp is Professor of Crime Prevention and Risk Management at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany.
Ester Herlin-Karnell is Professor of EU Constitutional Law and Justice and a University Research Chair at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Claes Lernestedt is Professor of Criminal Law at Stockholm University, Sweden.