Slavery, human trafficking topic of Great Decisions

John Cox, associate professor of Global Studies and History will be the final speaker of the 2020 Great Decisions Lecture Series. His presentation, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26, at International House, will touch upon Ronald Weitzer’s article “Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.”

Great Decisions talks focus on topics selected by the Foreign Policy Association. Addressing slavery and human trafficking, Weitzer wrote about how billions of dollars have been allocated to curbing human trafficking and slavery and how the international community can combat them.

According to Cox, who also is director of the Center for Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies, “The term ‘slavery’ evokes images of the long-abolished trade in African slaves. Yet, slavery is thriving in new as well as old forms in the 21st century. Experts and human rights advocates estimate that between 25 and 40 million people in the world today can be classified as slaves—a greater number than at any time in history. In today’s world, slavery takes such forms as forced labor, debt peonage and human trafficking—often for sexual exploitation, the form of slavery endured by several million girls and women and for which Charlotte is a major center.”

Cox has written and lectured widely on human rights, racism and genocide and resistance to Nazism and other oppressive systems. His research projects include his monograph project, tentatively titled “Revolt and Resistance in the Nazi Empire: Fighting Hitler, Fighting for a New World.”

The Office of International Programs coordinates the annual Great Decisions lecture series for the Charlotte community to discuss foreign policy issues selected as pressing by the Foreign Policy Association. The series is coordinated in collaboration with Charlotte Country Day School, International House of Charlotte (1817 Central Ave., No. 215) and the World Affairs Council of Charlotte.