Policing Animal Liberation, Enforcing Ecocide

Have you ever wondered if there is a link between the violent way in which animal and environmental activists are policed and the violent ecological and climate crises we are all experiencing? In this talk, Dr Andrea Brock will argue that policing plays a key role in enforcing a hierarchical ecological social order that is not only classed, racialised, and gendered, but maintains human supremacy and extractive relationships with nonhuman inhabitants. It designates nonhuman animals as property, to be exploited and killed, which goes hand in hand with degradation of ecosystems and habitats. Dr Brock will show how the harsh policing of those who attempt to challenge this order – such as animal liberation activists and hunt saboteurs – illustrates the role of policing in enforcing this order, and the ecological degradation integral to it. Taking an anarchist political ecology perspective, Dr Brock will therefore argue for the importance of a total liberation approach (which includes both human and nonhuman entities) to combat ecocide. Following the talk there will be a Q&A with Dr Brock which will provide attendees with the opportunity to further explore the role of nonhuman animals in the modern social ecological order, the intersections between the oppression of nonhuman animals and human hierarchies, how they are policed, and why Dr Brock advocates for a total liberation approach. This is the third talk in the new animals, nature and society talk series organised by the Animals, Nature and Society Research Stream at Birmingham City University (BCU) in collaboration with the UK Centre for Animal Law (ALAW).