Common Questions about Slavery - Part 3: Slavery Now and in the Past

"Is slavery today the same as slavery in the past, now that the trans-Atlantic slave trade of the 1600 to 1800s has ended?"

We continue on a series of blogs exploring some common language, questions and misunderstandings about slavery in the 21st century. Part 1, we examined low wage employment and how this is different to slavery. In Part 2, we explored child labour and other forms of labout that can be classed as slavery. This blog, Part 3, explores a common myth that slavery is a thing of the past.  

The Myth of Slavery?

A myth about slavery that needs addressing is - 'Slavery was a thing of a past'. The abolition of slavery in Europe and the United States are well-known historical events which are taught and celebrated. However, slavery remains a reality today despite the abolition efforts in the 1800s. Is slavery today the same as slavery in the past now that the trans-Atlantic slave trade of the 1600 to 1800s has ended?

It is important to not be too focused on the comparisons arising from this question as they will ultimately distract from the work needed to address slavery in the 21st century. Statistical comparison between today and the 1800’s is also likely to be a fool’s errand. It is estimated that there are currently 50 million slaves worldwide (50 million people in modern slavery: UN report | United Nations). In 1860, that figure was estimated to be 25 million (Global Slavery, by the Numbers - The New York Times (nytimes.com)).  

Do statistics matter?

Do these statistics mean that there are roughly 25 million more slaves today than in the 'bad old days' of the trans-Atlantic slave trade? The answer to that question is not clear cut, as additional 'types' of slavery are included in the 50 million figure. These additional classifications were not included or perhaps even recognised in the 1800s. Today, slavery is generally referred to as 'modern slavery' which includes forced labor, forced marriage, forced commercial sexual exploitation, state-imposed forced labor, and prison labor. (Modern slavery worldwide - Statistics & Facts | Statista).' Unfortunately, there are different approaches to these classifications which adds to the confusion. For example, forced commercial sexual exploitation, more commonly referred to as sex slaves, is often classified as a type of forced labour. 

A helpful definition of modern slavery is the exploitation of people for other people’s commercial or private gain (Modern slavery worldwide - Statistics & Facts | Statista). This broader definition brings a wide range of forms of exploitation within the definition of modern slavery. It is important to understand that these forms of exploitation were likely occurring in the 1800s but were not included in the estimates of slaves involved in trans-Atlantic and imperial slavery of the day. It is difficult to create a like for like comparison between slavery in the 1800s and modern day slavery. Clearly, the transportation of slaves between empires and colonies which occurred up to the 1800s has virtually disappeared as have most of the empires who engaged in these practices. Forced marriage, sexual slavery, state-imposed forced labour and prison labour occurred during this period even though they were rarely considered to be slavery. 

Forced Marriage and Domestic Violence

The issue of forced marriage is complex given how different cultures, religions and countries view marriage. Generally forced marriage is defined as a marriage where one or both parties did not give their full and free consent or where one or both parties did not have the legal capacity to consent to the marriage (Forced/Arranged/Child Marriage - Unchained At Last).  Interestingly, this concept also extends to marriages where one party is forced or coerced to remain in the marriage against their will (Forced/Arranged/Child Marriage - Unchained At Last). 

The challenge is that domestic violence within a marriage can bring a marriage, which may have originally been consented to, into the definition of a forced marriage. By some definitions, such a situation can be classified as modern slavery. The rising awareness of the extent of violence and coercion within marriages could lead to an unhelpful conflation of modern slavery and the epidemic of domestic violence. Both of these issues need to be addressed but it needs to be considered to what extent domestic violence may cloud the issue of modern slavery, within the reference of forced marriage. The cultural complexities of child marriage also need to be fully appreciated when considering its classification within modern slavery. Many ruling classes throughout history engaged in the practice of child marriage to preserve dynastic and familial connections (Child Marriage in Europe: Unveiling Its Dark Historical Roots - Nada Foundation in UK (nadafund.org.uk)). Even today, not all states in America have banned the marriage of children (New York bans child marriage — only the sixth state to officially do so - CBS News).

What about convicts?

State-imposed labour and prison labour are generally included in the discussions about modern slavery. State-imposed labour can include the use of child soldiers (Children recruited by armed forces or armed groups | UNICEF) or the practice of forcing civilians to provide labour to military and paramilitary groups (Pay, Flee or Pay to Avoid Forced Military Conscription - Karen News). Prison labour was considered in the past to be part of an effective penal system while today it is often classed as a form of slavery. Any comparison between modern slavery and the practices of the 1700 and 1800s is difficult when it involves attempting to impose modern definitions on historical practices. Significant issues can arise when 'backdating' definitions of slavery in an effort to compare modern slavery with slavery that took place in the 1700 and 1800s. Ultimately, it becomes an unhelpful and distracting approach.  

As an Australian this 'backdating' creates issues when talking about the formation of modern Australia (being Australian history following the arrival of the First Fleet). Australians are aware of their convict history of originally being an English penal colony. Prisoners who were transported to Australia, as well as their military minders, faced a harsh environment and oppressive workloads to simply survive. 

Australians, often with a sense of humour, comment on their family’s convict past while others turn their noses up at the prospect of being anything other than 'free settlers' (non-convicts). However, if the definitions from modern slavery are 'backdated' these conversations become very problematic. Under the definitions of modern slavery, Australia could be classified as a nation founded on slavery with the 'free settlers' benefiting from slave labour. Such a re-casting of Australia’s history is less than helpful and a clear distraction from the issues of modern slavery.

So how do we answer the question of whether slavery was a thing of the past which disappeared with the trans-Atlantic slave ships? I would say that much of what we call modern slavery is not modern at all. Forced marriages, sexual slavery, state-imposed forced labour and prison labour all existed in the past. Arguably, modern Australia emerged from a foundation of slave labour. Such discussions may be intellectually stimulating but I suggest that we adopt a less divisive and pragmatic approach.  Slavery, modern or otherwise, has been an issue throughout human history and one which should be confronted head-on. Slavery is not an inevitable part of the human experience. Rather, it should be regarded as a disease which has plagued humanity for too long. The disease of slavery can and must be cured.

Let’s work together towards a world where slavery is truly a thing of the past. Here are some ways you can join me and the team at New Rivers Enterprises to make forced labour obsolete.  

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For more information on how you can be part of making slavery obsolete through your investment with New Rivers, follow this link to learn more and join other investors. 

We are always interested in feedback and new ideas that people may have with respect to disrupting slave based industries, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you - email us at info.newrivers@gmail.com.

Pictured: Manfred, Michelle (centre) and the New Rivers Team