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Interspecies Intersections: Why Critical Animal Research Can Promote Social Justice?
In today's challenging and changing world, we often overlook the role that non-human beings play in social justice issues. The rise of Critical Animal Studies (CAS) is an important response to this problem. This academic field blends environmental and social justice, emphasizing the need for interconnectedness between humans and other living things, and calling for interspecies justice movements to transform social structures.
At its core, critical animal studies explores the connections between speciesism and other forms of oppression.
Critical Animal Studies began in 2001 through the establishment of the Center for Animal Liberation Affairs, which aims to combine academic research and political activities. It was later renamed the Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) and gradually established a global network. In this movement, scholars not only focus on animal rights, but also delve deeper into social justice issues related to them, including racial discrimination, sexism, and other forms of social inequality.
The development history of CAS
The history of critical animal studies can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s, when issues of environmental protection and animal rights first entered academic debate. Initial animal liberation movements such as the Bands of Mercy and the Animal Liberation Front also emerged one after another. With the progress of the times, critical animal studies gradually formed its own academic structure and activities.
Academic concern is not limited to the welfare of animals, but also involves other oppressed groups more broadly.
Since its establishment, ICAS has continuously published relevant research and organized various conferences and activities, such as the annual Animal Liberation Philosophy and Policy Conference. In addition, the institution publishes a variety of academic journals that provide a platform for critical animal research.
Ten principles
The operation of critical animal studies is guided by the following ten principles:
- Interdisciplinary: Support collaborative research from different academic fields.
- Subjectivity: Questioning notions of objectivity in academic analysis and emphasizing political commitment.
- Theoretical transformation: Theoretical research should guide practical political action.
- Intersectionality: Pay attention to the common roots among various forms of oppression.
- Anti-class: Oppose capitalism, pursue democracy and decentralization of society.
- Solidarity: Form alliances with other anti-oppression movements.
- Comprehensive liberation: Emphasizing that the liberation of humans, non-humans and the earth is a common struggle.
- Deconstruct binary oppositions: break down the concepts of opposition between humans and animals, nature and culture.
- Radical Politics: Supporting various means of change within social justice movements.
- Critical dialogue: Promote constructive dialogue between different academic groups and social movements.
Differences in Animal Research
Critical animal studies are significantly different from traditional animal studies. The former emphasizes political participation and direct action and challenges certain ideas of traditional academia. Proponents of critical animal studies often argue that, while it contributes to the complexity of human-animal relationships, it lacks a deep ethical commitment and is disconnected from practical issues.
The main purpose of critical animal studies is to break the silence about the situation of animals in society.
Furthermore, critical animal studies emphasizes the intersection of speciesism with other social justice issues, which is important in today's society. In the context of globalization, such research not only advances the understanding of non-human life, but also reveals to us the inequalities in many social structures.
Thinking about the future
As social justice movements expand, critical animal studies may become a new frontier for exploring relationships between humans and nonhumans. This movement offers a more holistic perspective, challenges traditional thinking patterns, and promotes cross-species solidarity and deeper social change. So we ask: How else can we make the voices of all life heard in this fight against all forms of oppression?
