Journal of Political Power
Volume 12, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 339-357

On the affective governmentality of anti-trafficking efforts: an ethnographic exploration (Article)

Leser J.* , Pates R.
  • a Department of Political Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
  • b Department of Political Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

Abstract

The state cannot be conceived as an apparatus of purely rational decision-making, as we argue in this paper using the case of governing human trafficking. We used a state ethnographic approach to reveal the three functions borne by affects in the governing of trafficking prevention projects. First, in affective displays used by police officers to regulate and govern the clients they encounter in their everyday practices. Second, the role of affective displays in boundary-making. And third, we will illuminate the epistemological function of affects in assessing the behaviour and the features of potential victims of trafficking. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

Sex work Policing Human trafficking Affective governmentality state ethnography

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074015777&doi=10.1080%2f2158379X.2019.1669263&partnerID=40&md5=cebd6af2d33e5a87d683c93438c8d053
DOI: 10.1080/2158379X.2019.1669263
ISSN: 2158379X
Original Language: English