Systemic supply chain design perpetuates modern slavery through structural opacity
Original framing: “Modern slavery is a business decision—not an accident” — Phys.org
Modern slavery is not new; it has deep roots in colonial trade and industrial capitalism. The design of global supply chains mirrors 19th-century factory systems, where opacity and distance enabled exploitation. Historical parallels show how legal and economic structures can be reformed to prevent such outcomes.
Modern slavery is not an accident but a structural outcome of global supply chain design, rooted in historical patterns of exploitation and reinforced by current economic systems.
Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives reveal alternative models of labor and value that prioritize human dignity over profit. Scientific and technological tools offer pathways for transparency and accountability, while marginalized voices and legal reforms are essential for systemic change. The trickster perspective reminds us that the current system is built on illusions of efficiency and cost-saving that mask human suffering. To dismantle modern slavery, we must redesign supply chains with transparency, equity, and human rights at their core.