Published Reviews of Collaborating Against Human Trafficking

“[Foot] presents a first-hand account and thoughtfully constructed conclusions around the many issues that develop when anti-trafficking organizations work together towards defeating human trafficking…. The book summarizes and provides a clear structure to many issues that have yet to be collectively considered in this field. Foot has written a highly practical text that makes many useful suggestions for improving inter-organizational collaboration by offering group exercises and resources that combat human trafficking. Her protocols are well referenced and include detailed footnotes…. Overall, Foot succeeds in drawing the reader in with captivating notes from her interviews, field work and experiences and utilizes jargon that is accessible to audiences of different levels. This text is succinct yet detailed, and the author makes a clear point to remain as impartial as possible in order to encourage the reader to view issues presented from multiple perspectives. This book is very relevant to inter-professional care because it can be used as a point of reference when considering potential issues and improvements for collaboration within not only criminal justice and social work, but also other health-related and community-focused fields. Foot states that trust, respect and perseverance are the values required to improve interdisciplinary collaboration – a necessary and central factor – in the fight against human trafficking.” Excerpt from review by Janelle Panday, published in J. of Interprofessional Care, October, 2016. Full text is open access.

“Foot’s honest and critical attention throughout her book to the visible and the not-so-visible challenges to cross-sector collaboration against human trafficking is a refreshingly clever approach to partnership-building within this growing field. Though human trafficking is often cited as a crime that is ‘hidden in plain sight’, Foot works to confront this belief in her book by encouraging stakeholders of all backgrounds and positioning – from victims to survivors to law enforcement, governments and VSPs – to persevere through challenges of collaboration together. In doing so, Foot makes a strong case for an achievable and worthwhile way forward in the anti-trafficking arena in the United States and beyond.” Excerpt from review by Eve Aronson, published in Slavery Today: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Human Trafficking Solutions, 2016, 3(1).

“[Foot’s] insights into the roles of gender, race, class, and nonsurvivor or survivor status…contribute important knowledge to the countertrafficking field. They may also point to further lines of inquiry…. Because human trafficking hinges on the disempowerment and debasement of human beings, Foot’s special attention to the role of power dynamics within counter-trafficking collaborations appears particularly important for social workers and other collaborators to consider closely…. Foot’s many years of study, her balanced and inclusive approach, and her dissemination of practical knowledge makes her a reliable source of information for those who are committed to improving or building their own countertrafficking collaborations.” Excerpt from review by Mary Katherine McCoy, published in Social Work, 2017, 62(1): 92-93. Partial text available.

“Kirsten Foot’s book is a timely contribution to the field…. This book in many ways reveals some of the implicit and silent barriers and impediments that influence collaboration efforts; some of which may be true to any sector, and some of which may be specific to the countertrafficking field. Overall, the book offers some interesting and important accounts…. [I]t is a well-written book, it weaves together anecdote, data analysis, and the broader literature in an assured and engaging way, and it will be of interest to those seeking to improve collaboration efforts and to scholars of communication studies more generally.” Excerpt from review by Marie Segrave, published in the J. of Human Trafficking, October, 2016. Partial text available.

“I enjoyed reading this book and believe it should be required reading for all management researchers with an interest in multisector collaboration and its role in social and environmental justice. Foot’s work is academically rooted but also the product of direct experience in the field. Her observations are based on the literature, an in-depth study of various collaborations around trafficking, and her own experience volunteering in the sector. The book is full of fascinating vignettes from her field research that bring the topic to life… Management scholars should be reading this important book for at least two reasons. First, it is on a topic of real importance: trafficking, like corruption, scandal, global warming, and poverty, deserves much more attention from management scholars, and this book reminds us of the suffering of many at the hands of both formal and informal organizations… Second, the book provides a template for work that is both practically engaged and academically sound. Unlike many of the ‘‘airport books’’ produced by management scholars, this book retains deep links to the academic literature while adding even deeper knowledge of the domain under discussion derived from rigorous research and practical experience. The result is a nicely balanced answer to the ‘‘rigor versus relevance’’ question that many management academics could benefit from examining. In fact, it stands as an excellent example that it needn’t be rigor versus relevance. Academic work, as Foot shows so expertly, can be rigorous and relevant—and interesting as well.” Excerpt from review by Nelson Phillips, published in Administrative Science Quarterly, January, 2017. Partial text available.