Dog Politics: Species Stories and the Animal Sciences

Scientific accounts of dogs suggest that they belong with humans due to their evolutionary becoming. Dog Politics dissects this story and offers an empirical analysis and critique of the development and consolidation of the species story in science, exploring how it is woven into broader scientific shifts and informed by transformative political events. It pays particular attention to how species-thinking bears on race, racism, and individuals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2024
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Dogs have been a part of human lives for thousands of years, and their relationship with humans has evolved significantly over time. According to scientific accounts of dogs' species story, modern dog-human relations are naturalized with reference to dogs' evolutionary becoming. This story suggests that dogs have evolved to be compatible with humans and that they play important roles in our lives, such as providing companionship, protection, and assistance.

However, the story of dogs is not without its complexities. Dog politics dissects this story and explores the development and consolidation of dogs' species story in science. The book offers a rich empirical analysis and critique of this story, asking what evidence exists to support it and what practical consequences it has for dogs. It also explores how this story is woven into broader scientific shifts in understandings of species, animals, and animal behaviors, and how such shifts were informed by and informed transformative political events, including slavery and colonialism, the Second World War and its aftermath, and the emergence of anti-racist movements in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

One of the key themes of the book is how species-thinking bears on race, racism, and individuals. The book argues that species-thinking is often used to justify and perpetuate racial and social inequalities, as it reinforces the idea that certain groups of animals are superior to others. For example, the story of dogs' evolutionary becoming is often used to argue that dogs are naturally suited to be domesticated and that they are therefore inferior to wild animals, such as wolves. This narrative can contribute to the perpetuation of racist attitudes and beliefs, as it suggests that certain races of humans are superior to others.

However, the book also suggests that species-thinking can be used to challenge and dismantle these harmful narratives. By examining the evidence that supports the story of dogs' evolutionary becoming, and by challenging the assumptions that underpin it, we can begin to question the ways in which species-thinking is used to perpetuate racial and social inequalities. The book also explores how dogs themselves are affected by the story of their species story. Dogs are often subjected to discrimination and prejudice based on their species, and the story of their evolutionary becoming can contribute to this. For example, dogs that are perceived as being more aggressive or dangerous may be treated differently than dogs that are perceived as being more friendly orcile.

The book also offers practical suggestions for how we can improve the treatment of dogs and promote greater understanding and respect for their species. For example, the book suggests that we should work to promote greater diversity and inclusivity in the dog-human relationship, by recognizing the diversity of dog breeds and their unique characteristics. It also suggests that we should work to promote greater awareness of the importance of dog welfare and the need to protect dogs from harm.

In conclusion, Dog Politics is a thought-provoking and important book that offers a rich empirical analysis and critique of the development and consolidation of dogs' species story in science. The book explores how species-thinking bears on race, racism, and individuals, and offers practical suggestions for how we can improve the treatment of dogs and promote greater understanding and respect for their species. By examining the evidence that supports the story of dogs' evolutionary becoming and challenging the assumptions that underpin it, we can begin to dismantle the harmful narratives that perpetuate racial and social inequalities.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 216 x 138 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526174802