What would the world be like now if slavery were still legal?

1) First of all I think the import of slaves from Africa (or other foreign places) would have stopped by now as population reached saturation. I think there would be fewer ethnic minorities in the UK than in the US, because the UK population is already dense and there is already a large lower class to be tapped.

2) I think the majority of slaves now would be owned by corporations rather than individuals. They’d be forced to work in factories, call-centres, McDonalds outlets, and do other menial jobs like cleaning.

3) Slaves would not be used as soldiers. Putting guns in the hands of a desperate, oppressed population would be disastrous. They’d either use them to try to escape, or they’d use them to kill themselves.

4) People in desperate poverty would volunteer for slavery as an alternative to unemployment. People from poor countries may choose slavery in Britain (or the US) as a better alternative than freedom in their own country.

5) Because it would be no longer cheaper to out-source work to other countries, I think the manufacturing industries of the west would survive. There would still be ship-building on the Tyne for instance.

I’m sure I’ll think of more. Anyone else have ideas?

@PandoraBoxx I’m looking for political and economic ideas, not an assessment of its marketability.

Slavery is legal, today, in many parts of the world. Do some research on what life is like in those places. Maybe they’ll give you ideas for your alternate universe

I have a pet theory that we didn’t abolish slavery so much as spread it around via the income tax. Chew on that if you are so inclined.

I’m aware that slavery is still legal in some places, but not in major industriallised nations. I have already posted a few of my ideas that I’ve gained from my knowledge of existing and historical slavery, but I’m looking for more “what-if” sort of speculation.

@kevbo thats a very valid point, thank you. I’ve often heard it said that marriage is also a form of legalised slavery of women (though perhaps less so now than it was 50 years ago).

@downtide I’m pretty sure that slavery isn’t legal in more than about two countries worldwide, but there are still millions of people stuck in illegal slavery

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I think that there would be a small group against slavery, much like the Quakers were in the 18th and 19th centuries. They would have become much larger, and would probably have their own small country or town outside of all of the major superpowers

@Pseudonym Thanks. I think the idea of an anti-slavery movement would be a good one. Maybe it would be illegal in some small but liberal country like Sweden.

One issue that you might raise in your book is that of the quality of work done by slaves vs. free workers. This was demonstrated during the latter period of slavery in the US. The slave would do only the minimum amount and quality of work needed to avoid punishment from the overseer, The wage or contract worker would give high quality work in order to keep the wages coming. The plantation owners were finding that wage or contract/sharecrop labor was actually cheaper than slavery.

I wouldn’t be here if slavery was still legal

@downtide No problem. Are you thinking of slavery like it was in the 17–1800s (on plantations, etc.) or like it is now (even though it’s not legal) with more sex slavery and things like that?
Also, is the slavery in your book race-oriented, or is it just anybody?

It would be like working at Wal*Mart, but with better benefits

If people were progressive enough to abolish slavery in the 1800s, one thing you should address is why it’s still legal and acceptable in your universe. I could see there being massive boycotts of big corporations that used slave labor, like McDonalds or Walmart, but obviously non-slave companies would have a hard time competing with their prices. I could see a situation happening where people feel like they have to buy from these companies, either because they can’t afford to shop at other places or there is nothing else available in their area. It’s kind of like the Wal-mart debate we have already. We already have problems with worker’s rights, so I’d imagine that in your universe it would be really hard to make sure these people had ethical working conditions.

You suggested that people in desperate poverty would volunteer for slavery in England to escape their own country. I don’t know of any cases where people volunteered for slavery. I mean, think about it- you’re giving up not just the rest of your own life, but all your descendants’ as well. But England did used to have indentured servants. People would voluntarily work without pay for someone else for seven years in exchange for things like passage to the American colonies or to escape a prison sentence. They still got something out of it and it’s a lot easier to swallow than signing your whole life away.

Prior to the 19th century, people did volunteer for a form of slavery to get out of poverty and go to the colonies. In exchange for their passage they had to serve a certain number of years of indentured servitude, usually seven years, less for a skilled worker. During that time they had the status of a slave.

@downtide – Been done…read some of the Gor novels. Though if slavery were still legal, I’d be the first to go and buy myself a sex slave :-)

@Pseudonym I’m thinking more of the sort of slavery that existed in the 1800s. As for the race issue, as time goes by I’m more inclined to think it wouldn’t be so much racial division as a division of class. Not so focussed on the sex-slave idea although I’m sure that would thrive too, probably not going to be a focus of the story.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land the indentured servitude to “buy” a way out of poverty sounds an excellent idea and is just the sort of thing I’m looking for. I can definitely use that idea.

Under your conditions I would assume the corporations would provide shelter, food, everything for these slaves. So, I was thinking about what @haleth mentioned about having to exlain why it still exists in modern day. What if some of the slaves don’t want it to change? That there is a movement on the “outside” to abolish slavery and some of the people against it are the slaves themselves. Maybe it would be a more civilized endeavour in the 21st century, and the slaves live in some sort of socialized utopia. But, the down side would be certain freedoms are lost. Maybe also once you decide to be a slave at a certain age you cannot change your mind, unless someone buys you out of slavery, and frees you.

It kind of makes me think of the Muslim women who don’t want to wear western clothes, have educations, or have jobs. Theiir job is to serve the family. It is a kind of slavery to me, because there is a loss of self determination, especially once you are married off; you become property, even before that you might be a comodity of your fathers to be sold.

You could also have women who are breeders. Certain women and men selected to produce certain desired traits. Maybe women who are slaves don’t typically raise their own children; but rather, ceretain women specialize in caring for the children of the community.

Just thinking a little more, politically and how the world views it…you could describe maybe that some countries refuse to trade with yours, or people speaking out around the world, and England arguing why the slavery is better than the poverty observed in other countries. In fact, England defending itself could set the scene, to describe what life is like in England with slavery. But, I assume you already know the basic structure of the story you want to tell.

I’m interested to know what you decide.

I once saw a great quote.
“Slavery requires your owners to feed and house you. Wage slavery requires you to do it yourself.”

Also, “Slavery was never abolished in the US, it was outsourced.”

@HungryGuy I might buy one but then immediately give her freedom. What is the point of forcing someone to “love” you?

@JLeslie I really like your answer, especially the part about it being something that some slaves would not want to change. It reminds me of the stories of some German POWs who were brought to England during WW2, and after they were released they decided they liked England so much they stayed. I think at least some slave-owning corporations would have to treat their slaves well, as I think the public would likely look very unfavourably on businesses that didn’t. Perhaps there would be big media scandals when it was discovered that otherwise reputable businesses were treating their slaves badly.

This reminds me of the system of slavery in the Roman Empire. There were different classes of slaves; ranging from latifundia slaves who were little more than agricultural machinery to highly skilled teachers who were treated like members of their owners family. Sometimes a highly valued slave was given freedom and adopted into the family. Other slaves would not accept freedom if offered, since as a slave they were guarranteed the basics of life but as a freedman they had to compete for their daily living. Prisoners of war were frequently used as entertainment in the gladiatorial games, some rising to great fame and buying their freedom.

@downtide I like the media scandal idea. Also, you could bring religion into it if you dare. I don’t know much about the bible, but I have seen people on fluther criticize the Old Testament for allowing slavery, maybe the New Testament does too. So you could have religious figures, or religious nuts, whichever is more appealing to you speaking about how God wanted slaves. Some of the slaves could see that they were within Gods plan maybe? Almost like they were brainwashed, maybe it is taught in their schools and that is part of the media reporting.

@downtide That’s definitely smart, having a division of class. Along those lines, if upper classes had more slaves, then it might be interesting to have people trading slaves for things like houses, etc. instead of paying with money.

@Pseudonym I like the idea of using them as trade items. I wonder how much a slave would be worth (assuming good health and ability to work)? I guess it would depend a great deal on their skills. About as much as a luxury car, I would think.

NSFW @stranger_in_a_strange_land – I don’t care about love. I’d just “wear” her as my Cum Sponge (Google it :-)

@downtide I think that how much a slave is worth would be based on some sort of family history; kind of like an object. One could refer to their place of birth like a company. “oh, that small island in the pacific just has the most well-built slaves!” and one could say “oh, this one’s father worked for President Smith!”
Also, would people say “slaves” and regard them as objects, or would there be some euphamism to make owning slaves politically correct? Are they already?

@Pseudonym that reminds me of the way people keep pedigree records for dogs and horses.

The last question’s interesting, I will have to think on that.

The pedigree records is interesting.

I was also wondering what a slaves punishment would be if he did not behave or perform?

@JLeslie I would imagine that that would be a center of debate. Some would keep the original whipping, like it was in the 1800s, whereas some people would be arguing for new methods, possibly more humane. In other words, people would still treat slaves like animals, but there would be something more along the lines of Peta for them.

@downtide That’s actually a good idea. Bring in how slaves are treated in comparison to animals and pets.

@HungryGuy I’m incapable of doing that to a person. My late wife had been treated like that before we met.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land the main character in my story will be like that. He’s opposed to slavery but finds himself owning one unexpectedly. He discovers, through this slave, an illegal pit-fighting ring (slaves raised for and used for fighting, in a similar way people illegally breed fighting dogs)

I suppose there may be regulations in place for owning slaves – by-laws and having to register them or pay additional taxes in some way. I wonder if there would be laws in place in relation to the treatment of ones slave similar to rules with pet ownership.

@Rachienz I think almost certainly there would be minimum requirements, laws against cruelty and so on.

@downtide Great idea. I can give you some real-life insights on how sex-slaves are treated. If you have a strong enough stomach for it. Contact me privately if you’re interested.

Back to the pedigree, are these slaves from a particular race?

That pit-fighting aspect is very upsetting to me. Would there be people who own slaves who are vehemently against it?

@stranger_in_a_strange_land – Believe it or not, there are women who want to be treated like that!

@HungryGuy I’ll take your word for it, but can’t begin to understand it. Maybe they are mentally ill?

@stranger_in_a_strange_land – Nah, They’re just kinky women (the best kind, IMO :). Being kinky isn’t mentally ill any more than being gay is mentlly ill.

@HungryGuy Kink I can understand, consentually of course. But people who actually want to be physically harmed is beyond my “event horizon”. I suppose your analogy to being gay is similar. Although I’m straight, I respect and defend their orientation even though I can’t comprehend it. I suppose as long as it’s free and consentual; it was just the “slavery” bit that I reacted against. Good call, thanks for the insight. +GA :^)

@stranger_in_a_strange_land – Actually, very few women want to be truly harmed (though, yes, there are a few self-proclaimd “pain sluts” out there). For the most part, women into kink (to the shock and dismay of radical feminists everywhere) want to be “owned” and “used” as their Master sees fit to use them for his pleasure.

@HungryGuy Since my lady had been “used” that way against her will and so deeply traumatized by it, it never occurred to me that a lady could actually “like” such treatment. Bondage games being one thing, consentual fun. But I always viewed myself as “protector” rather than “owner”. The idea of treating a lovely lady as some kind of an object just doesn’t fit my idea of pleasure. I had too much love and respect for her to even consider that.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land – I suppose it all depends on one’s past experiences in life that triggers what sort of kinks (or lack thereof) one is into…

Holy ball and chains Batman! I can see in this alternate universe of yours the slaves having some implant injected in their neck or near their heart so if they try to run it will be fired and blow out their jugular or aorta killing them. I can see corporations having operatives that will go and wipe out huge chunks of the other corporations slaves. I can see non-corporation folk also getting into the mix forming MOB like cartels to combat the corporations.

ooh @Hypocrisy_Central these are excellent ideas. Thankyou!

@Hypocrisy_Central Robert A. Heinlein explored this idea of corporate war in “Friday”.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Thanks. I should read that.