How platforms facilitate collaboration across organizational boundaries: fighting human trafficking in Sweden

Josefina Erikson,Oscar L Larsson

doi:10.1007/s11077-020-09371-6

Josefina Erikson, Oscar L Larsson

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-020-09371-6

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Journal: Policy Sciences	Publication Date: Feb 5, 2020
Citations: 12	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Uppsala University, Swedish Defence University

Abstract

The use of collaborations and partnerships that engage a variety of actors from both the public and private spheres has drawn attention during the last decade as a promising strategy for combatting trafficking and improving assistance to victims of trafficking. This article investigates the Swedish Civil Society Platform against Human Trafficking as an example of successful collaboration between civil society actors. The aim is to explore how the platform as a distinct organizational form is capable of dealing productively with some of the challenges facing internal and external collaboration. We utilize interviews with key actors and a study of policy documents as we argue that the modularity and flexibility of the platform organizational form are key factors in its success. While it is a robust type of organization that may be regarded as a trustworthy partner, it also permits its member organizations to continue functioning as independent entities.

Highlights

Collaborations and partnerships that involve a variety of actors from different sectors have come to be regarded during the last decade as promising means to combat trafficking and support the victims of trafficking (Foot 2015; Lagon 2015; Wagenaar et al 2017; Jones and Lutze 2016)
Our empirical investigation of the Swedish Civil Society Platform against Human Trafficking, in which we evaluate how it deals with challenges regarding various dimensions of internal and external collaboration, is shaped by the theoretical discussion we have presented above
The present study has explored the ability of platforms to resolve the challenges facing internal and external collaboration in the effort to mitigate problems of coordination and collaboration, and our findings suggest that the platform organizational form may be useful for overcoming some of the challenges noted

Summary

Introduction

Collaborations and partnerships that involve a variety of actors from different sectors have come to be regarded during the last decade as promising means to combat trafficking and support the victims of trafficking (Foot 2015; Lagon 2015; Wagenaar et al 2017; Jones and Lutze 2016). The Swedish Civil Society Platform against Human Trafficking has recently emerged as an example in this regard of successful collaboration among civil society actors This collaboration has enhanced coordination between different types of volunteer organizations, thereby rendering support for victims more effective, it has developed a public National Support Program (NSP) to provide economic aid to victims and served as an active partner of public agencies. The aim of this article is to explore how this organizational form is capable of successfully dealing with some of the challenges facing collaboration, with a particular focus on two such issues related to the Swedish case These are first, how does the platform structure promote collaboration between its member organizations? These are first, how does the platform structure promote collaboration between its member organizations? and second, how does the platform organization facilitate collaboration with public agencies while retaining the critical voice of civil society organizations?

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