Intersectional Approach to Combatting Human Trafficking: Applying an Interdisciplinary Global Leader-Follower Collaboration Paradigm

Though illegal in every country, human trafficking still exists on every continent except Antarctica. As a cross-border, multiorganizational, and cross-jurisdictional activity, human trafficking can be termed a wicked problem. At the international, national, and local levels, the legislation is in effect to assist in the fight against human trafficking. However, laws become hard or, at times, almost impossible to enforce in the context of global volatility. In addition to being a wicked problem and taking place in a volatile environment of intersectional global and local influences, current trends in human trafficking are exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. To address twenty-first-century challenges to combat and eradicate human trafficking requires a shift in global focus beyond a narrow and a single-issue scope. Rather, we need holistic and systematic leadership approaches based on collective efforts. The Covid-19 pandemic revealed inadequate leadership knowledge and practice to function in the environment with radical uncertainty, lack of clear information, and global interconnection of issues. This chapter argues that to lead global initiatives within highly complex processes and in volatile and uncertain environments requires a unique type of leadership. We envision leadership as a transformative and collaborative force grounded within principles of collaborative rationality where followers and leaders all contribute as global collaborators. The chapter finishes with an interdisciplinary global leader-follower collaboration model for antihuman trafficking strategies in highly volatile conditions.