Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia and U.S. National Security - Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Transnational Organized Crime, Sex Slaves and Labor, Migrants, Refugees, Remittances, Smuggling, Maritime

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The United States government finds human trafficking to be an important subject and is placing increasing focus on the issue. The Southeast Asian portion of the Western Pacific encompasses a substantial portion of global trafficking, much of which has a final destination in the United States. This study asks the following question: How does trafficking in persons (TIP) affect U.S. national security interests and regional stability in Southeast Asia? To answer this question, this study examines how trafficking affects U.S. national security; the importance of combatting human trafficking in Southeast Asia to regional stability and to U.S. national security; levels of involvement the United States might seek to address the problem of human trafficking in Southeast Asia; and the possibility of an increase in maritime security efforts and interagency coordination in Southeast Asia to effectively combat human trafficking. U.S. national security is tied to regional stability through effects on economic interdependence and state partnerships. TIP threatens both, through its influence in transnational organized crime and the misuse of humans as an illegal resource. The study concludes by considering possible solutions to the problem that could be adopted by the United States military. Chapter II discusses various contributing elements of trafficking to build a comparative framework for analysis against the situation in Southeast Asia. Chapter III examines the national security strategy of the United States as it applies to TIP in Southeast Asia. Chapter IV is devoted to efforts by the United States to combat TIP globally, regionally, trafficking specifically in connection to Southeast Asia, and domestically. The final chapter addresses the way ahead, including what is prevalent, including what can be changed in policy and use of available assets, in order to bring about changes that will address U.S. national security interests and reduce the level of trafficking en masse.

This study argues that there are gaps in the literature showing case studies of exactly how international criminal organizations make use of funding from one operation to the next, such as from narcotics to human trafficking. Furthermore, there is a lack of focus in the United States on trafficking and criminal organizations originating in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Additionally, policy is inadequate in many states and institutions, as they do not address TIP with an approach to combatting TOC as well. Last, this study provides a hypostudy on possible solutions beneficial to United States security strategies within the context of human trafficking as a strategic soft power focal point.

In the conclusion, this study compares policies of the United States DOD to that of NGO and IGOs globally. The research examines how trafficking is defined, viewed, tracked, and combatted via these institutions. The conclusion compares the current situation within institutional frameworks and constraints, and further examines the implications of human trafficking on regional stability, in addition to the strategic goals of the United States.

CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION * A. MAJOR RESEARCH QUESTION * B. IMPORTANCE * C. POTENTIAL EXPLANATIONS AND HYPOTHESES * D. LITERATURE REVIEW * 1. What is Human Trafficking? * a. U.S. Official Definitions * b. NGO Definitions * c. IGO Definitions * 2. What Is the Cause of the Human Trafficking Problem? * 3. What Should Be Done? * 4. What Are the Literature Gaps? * E. METHODOLOGY * F. STUDY OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND * CHAPTER II - HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA * A. ELEMENTS OF TIP IN SOUTHEAST ASIA * 1. Migration * 2. Refugees * 3. Remittances