The impact of Finnish politics on third-sector organizations’ human trafficking work
Mäkelä, Maria (2024)
2024
Master's Programme in Leadership for Change
Johtamisen ja talouden tiedekunta - Faculty of Management and Business
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-04-16
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202403253066
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202403253066
Tiivistelmä
Human trafficking is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. It is global and diverse in nature, and hence, different sectors of society participate in combating it and helping those affected. One of these actors is the third sector, which this thesis examines. The potential of third-sector organizations (TSOs) in human trafficking work has been recognized nationally and internationally, but is not fully utilized. This study aimed to shed light on the political and governmental factors in Finland that impact TSOs’ human trafficking work.
I used the resource dependence theory and the political feedback theory as the theoretical background of this thesis. Based on them, I created a theoretical framework that visualizes TSOs’ dependence on the resources of governmental actors. The theoretical framework also considers how TSOs’ operations change as a result of political changes, and the feedback effects that can be created through this process.
I collected data by interviewing representatives of six Finnish TSOs who encounter human trafficking. I asked interviewees, for example, about how the organization has been affected by political changes and what they would change in the organization's external environment to conduct human trafficking work more successfully. I analyzed the data using thematic analysis. I deductively divided the results into five thematic categories, which provided the structure for the results section. These five themes are ‘perspectives of successful human trafficking work’, ‘cooperation with governmental entities’, ‘factors affecting the work of the third sector’, ‘feelings of ability to impact politics’, and ‘desires for change in the organizations’ external environment’.
By analyzing these themes, I was able to create an understanding of the nuances of the relationship between the TSOs and governmental actors. The results show that TSOs are dependent on governmental actors in various ways, and they must often adapt their operations accordingly. The availability of funding, legislative changes, governmental actors’ human trafficking work, education and societal awareness of human trafficking, and political decisions all impact the work of TSOs.
The results help better understand the consequences of political decisions on the phenomenon of human trafficking, regarding TSOs’ work but also in wider society. The results can help to plan future political and administrative actions in a manner that considers the operating conditions of the third sector, thus improving the position of victims of human trafficking in society.
I used the resource dependence theory and the political feedback theory as the theoretical background of this thesis. Based on them, I created a theoretical framework that visualizes TSOs’ dependence on the resources of governmental actors. The theoretical framework also considers how TSOs’ operations change as a result of political changes, and the feedback effects that can be created through this process.
I collected data by interviewing representatives of six Finnish TSOs who encounter human trafficking. I asked interviewees, for example, about how the organization has been affected by political changes and what they would change in the organization's external environment to conduct human trafficking work more successfully. I analyzed the data using thematic analysis. I deductively divided the results into five thematic categories, which provided the structure for the results section. These five themes are ‘perspectives of successful human trafficking work’, ‘cooperation with governmental entities’, ‘factors affecting the work of the third sector’, ‘feelings of ability to impact politics’, and ‘desires for change in the organizations’ external environment’.
By analyzing these themes, I was able to create an understanding of the nuances of the relationship between the TSOs and governmental actors. The results show that TSOs are dependent on governmental actors in various ways, and they must often adapt their operations accordingly. The availability of funding, legislative changes, governmental actors’ human trafficking work, education and societal awareness of human trafficking, and political decisions all impact the work of TSOs.
The results help better understand the consequences of political decisions on the phenomenon of human trafficking, regarding TSOs’ work but also in wider society. The results can help to plan future political and administrative actions in a manner that considers the operating conditions of the third sector, thus improving the position of victims of human trafficking in society.