The subtitle tells it all: New Slavery in the Global Economy.
Slavery has existed since mankind formed agricultural settlements. Modern slavery differs from older forms of slavery in that legal ownership is avoided, very low purchase cost is combined with very high profits, there is a surplus of potential slaves, the relationship is short term, the slaves are disposable (the "owner" take no responsibility for maintaining the health of the "slaves"), and ethnic differences are not important. One chapter is devoted to slavery in each of the following countries: Thailand, Mauritania, Brazil, Pakistan, and India. Of course, officially slavery does not exist. In India, for example, we find "attached" workers. This is a grim topic but the writing is fluid. A disturbing view of the hopeless lives that far too many people are born into.
Janice Sherman
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