About the Book
Weaving together a diverse range of scholarly-activist intersectional voices from around the world, Critical Animal Studies and Activism: International Perspectives on Total Liberation and Intersectionality co-edited by Anthony J. Nocella II and Richard J. White makes a powerful contribution to knowledge and understanding. It is essential reading for environmentalists, animal advocates, social justice organizers, policy-makers, social change-makers, and indeed for all those who care about the future of this planet. This book spans many scholar disciplines and activist social movements, and provides new insights to fundamental debates surrounding inter-species justice, liberation, and democracy. This critical theory for total liberation book expands the understanding of one struggle one fight: for human freedom, for animal rights, and for the liberation of the earth herself. Rooted in a radical praxis, the book argues that those in academia that claim critical animal studies, need to hit the streets with the protesters and the protesters need to join the theoretical conversations. Theory and practice and not binaries, but two pieces of a larger goal. Read this book and use its arguments to take the fight to smash capitalism, oppression, and domination in all its forms!
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements – Danni McGhee: Foreword – S. Marek Muller: Preface – Richard J. White/Anthony J. Nocella II: Introduction – Alex Hinchcliffe/Richard J. White: Bearing Witness to the Animal Condition. Exploring the Complex Motivations, Experiences and Coping- Strategies of Sheffield Save Movement Activists (UK) – María Marta Andreatta: Performing Veganism: Building Bridges amongst Academia, Activism, and Community – Anja Radaljac/Aljaž Krivec: Becoming Vegan in Slovenia: Some Reflections on Theory and Activism – Nathan Grande: Strategic Empathy, Intra-Sectional Demonstrations, and Animal Activism: In Pursuit of Total Liberation – Kiana Avlon: Challenging the Ideologies behind the Animal Agricultural Industry: A Case for Critical Animal Studies and Ecofeminism – Carlos Garcia: ‘Before We Talk about Freedom: Let Us Free Our Slaves’: An Activist’s Reflections on Anarchism, Non-human Animals and Total Liberation – Terry Hurtado: Animal Victims in the Colombian War – Erica von Essen/Michael Allen: Cow Releases as Staged Liberations in Agri-Tourism – Tony Quintana: Afterword – Contributors’ Biographies – Index.
About the Author :
Anthony J. Nocella II, Ph.D., (they/he) long-time intersectional total liberation scholar-activist, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Salt Lake Community College. He is the editor of the Peace Studies Journal, Transformative Justice Journal, and co-editor of five book series including Critical Animal Studies and Theory and Hip Hop Studies and Activism. He is the National Director of Save the Kids and Executive Director of the Institute for Critical Animal Studies. He has published over fifty book chapters or articles and forty books. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, Washington Post, Houston Chronicles, Fresno Bee, Fox, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, and Los Angeles Times.
Richard J. White, Ph.D., is Reader/Associate Professor in Human Geography at Sheffield Hallam University, UK. Greatly influenced by anarchist praxis Richard’s main research agenda explores a range of ethical and economic landscapes rooted in the intersectional contexts of social justice and total liberation movements. He has co-edited Vegan Geographies (2022); The Radicalization of Pedagogy, Theories of Resistance, The Practice of Freedom (all 2016); and Anarchism and Animal Liberation (2015).
Review :
“Critical Animal Studies and Activism is an insightful and provocative book for anyone seriously interested in global radical change.”
—Dr. Jason Del Gandio, Temple University
“Critical Animal Studies and Activism is a vital and timely book that is essential reading for scholars and activists wanting to fully understand the growing intersectional movement for human, animal, and Earth liberation. In these dark times, a radical understanding of Critical Animal Studies is needed more than ever.”
—Dr. Will Boisseau, Member, Board of Directors, Institute for Critical Animal Studies
“A powerful book where eleven voices converge, from different points of the globe, proposing current and critical discussions on the practices of activism, the strategy of intersectionality, and total liberation action. A must-read, this book will leave a legacy of struggle for future generations. The struggle to achieve that animals finally stop being consumable and usable bodies just because they are vulnerable to human beings.”
—Alexandra Navarro, Director, Latin American Institute for Critical Animal Studies
“This is an outstanding critical theory book that truly holds to the values and definition of total liberation and intersectionality. The editors grounded in anarchism created a brilliant text that moves social justice and animal rights forward in a more inclusive manner.”
—Arash Daneshzadeh, Editor, Transformative Justice Journal
“Critical Animal Studies and Activism offers readers insight into what will be one of the defining issues of the 21st century: how will we challenge speciesism—globally, locally, individually and collectively? The editors and contributors educate, elucidate, and provoke, offering a road map through the critical questions and conflicts that have shaped the field. But most of all, they offer us the hope that praxis will make total liberation possible.”
—Dr. Nancy A. Heitzeg, Professor of Sociology and Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity, St Catherine University
“Poignant, powerful, and most certainly praiseworthy of reading! Critical Animal Studies and Activism is a timely and purposeful read that will strengthen and encourage vegan activists to continue the disciplined lifestyle towards animal liberation, while simultaneously challenge those of us who are not. Critical Animal Studies and Activism is a call for everyone to finally stop being idle and join the fight for total liberation of all species, animals and homo sapiens!”
—Gina C. Alfred, Member, Executive Board of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Salt Lake Community College
“Critical Animal Studies and Activism is an empowering journey through the history of animal rights and the solutions towards animal liberation.”
—Marisol Adriana Burgueno, Co-Editor, Poetry Behind the Walls
“Delving into the latest CAS scholarship, this book is sure to enlighten those interested in adopting CAS principles into their daily practice. As a beacon of invaluable knowledge, the insights garnered from diverse radical communities are sure to promote inter-species liberation.”
—Dr. Amber E. George, Editor, Journal for Critical Animal Studies
“In times of extreme crises such as climate change, four years of the Trump Administrations, and COVID, Critical Animal Studies and Activism provides readers an insightful lens to analyze and organize these turbulent times. More importantly, it transcends traditional academic boundaries of safety and precaution to develop a praxis to improve the current human and nonhuman condition.”
—Dr. Erik Juergensmeyer, Editor, Green Theory and Praxis Journal
“Critical Animal Studies and Activism is a fierce call to action of humans to radically understand, act and liberate non-human animals and our Tierra Madre. To deeply ground our work of liberation and racial justice through intersectional empathy and ways of knowing. To extend our compassion and passion to non-human animals in a collective effort of a more just planet for all.”
—Chelsie Joy Acosta, Coordinator, National Week of Action Against School Pushout, Save the Kids
“Penned in the chaos of pandemic, this transformative book spans theory and activism, total liberation and bridge building, intersectionality and ecofeminism, anarchism and bearing witness, daring to offer hope through anti-capitalist solutions to the global domination and oppression of non-human animals.”
—Elisa Stone, Master Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator, Main Street Vegan Academy and Professor of English, Salt Lake Community College
“A powerful brilliant intersectional work that moves critical animal studies forward. This book is one of the most outstanding critical and radical books within the field of animal rights.”
—Alisha Page, Board Member, Save the Kids
“Having followed the work of Anthony J. Nocella II and Richard J. White for many years, I am not surprised to see yet another excellent book challenging readers to dig still a little deeper in the search for truth. Among other contributions, Critical Animal Studies and Activism brings animal liberation together with other centers of activism, thus giving concepts like ‘intersectionality’ a fresh and important new place in our understanding of oppression and liberation.”
—Dr. John C. Alessio, Professor Emeritus in Sociology, former University Dean, and author of Social Problems and Inequality
“This impactful, applicable, and wide-ranging collection shows that veganism is not simply a white, privileged, consumption-driven movement but grounded in radical systemic critique. Veganism, activism and total liberation go hand-in-hand and contributors to this book highlight not only that the time and place for action is here and now, but how to go about activism effectively and inclusively.”
—Nathan Poirier, Co-Director, Students for Critical Animal Studies
