A Parliamentary Discourse on Human Trafficking in the Netherlands

The goal of this thesis is to find out whether the Netherlands is following the observed trend of European politics with regards to migration and human trafficking moving towards stricter policies. Two dominant approaches within this discourse, a victim- based and a security- maintenance approach, are analysed through the theoretical framework on International Relations (specifically realism and constructivism). In order to be able to indicate which approach is most dominant, the researcher observes parliamentary debates on human trafficking in the Netherlands. Parliamentary debates provide an opportunity to grasp both what is happening in society, what public concerns exist as well as senses the political urgency of the matter and how these sentiments will ultimately affect policy. A more security- maintenance approach to the crime, influenced by the migration crisis, could predict the future of anti- trafficking policymaking and could show the need for further research into the links between migration and trafficking and their policies. Ultimately, an observation is made that the Netherlands is quite able to distinguish between migration and human trafficking. In addition, the data shows how the security- maintenance approach and the victim- based approach are intertwined in the discussion on how to best tackle trafficking in human beings. The outcomes could possibly mean that within a context of foreign policy or international cooperation, states not only act in their self- interest (protecting the state and its borders) but can manage to uphold a perspective in which protecting victims is equally as important.