The long arm of the neoliberal leviathan in the counter-trafficking field: the case of Portuguese NGOs

In recent decades, in many countries including Portugal, human trafficking has become an important issue on political agendas, attracting increased investment of financial and resources, the growing involvement civil society organizations. Employing a historical perspective, this article analyses role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) counter-trafficking field, particular, conceptualization trafficking, elaboration policies practices, NGOs’ potentials limitations challenging them. Using data obtained through prolonged empirical research, argues that contexts characterized by high level institutionalization structural weakness organized society, NGOs have little chance to assume beyond serving as long arm neoliberal state apparatus. Both outsourcing certain services controversial yet undisputed national security-focused approach represent integral parts practical logics which remains largely unquestioned NGOs. These include silencing any debate about prostitution, at least within Portuguese