Animal Oppression and Human Violence: Domesecration, Capitalism, and Global Conflict

Critical Perspectives on Animals: Theory, Culture, Science, and Law

by David A. Nibert

Jared Diamond and other leading scholars have argued that the domestication of animals for food, labor, and tools of war has advanced the development of human society. But by comparing practices of animal exploitation for food and resources in different societies over time, David A. Nibert reaches a strikingly different conclusion. He finds in the domestication of animals, which he renames "domesecration," a perversion of human ethics, the development of large-scale acts of violence, disastrous patterns of destruction, and growth-curbing epidemics of infectious disease.

Nibert centers his study on nomadic pastoralism and the development of commercial ranching, a practice that has been largely controlled by elite groups and expanded with the rise of capitalism. Beginning with the pastoral societies of the Eurasian steppe and continuing through to the exportation of Western, meat-centered eating habits throughout today's world, Nibert connects the domesecration of animals to violence, invasion, extermination, displacement, enslavement, repression, pandemic chronic disease, and hunger. In his view, conquest and subjugation were the results of the need to appropriate land and water to maintain large groups of animals, and the gross amassing of military power has its roots in the economic benefits of the exploitation, exchange, and sale of animals. Deadly zoonotic diseases, Nibert shows, have accompanied violent developments throughout history, laying waste to whole cities, societies, and civilizations. His most powerful insight situates the domesecration of animals as a precondition for the oppression of human populations, particularly indigenous peoples, an injustice impossible to rectify while the material interests of the elite are inextricably linked to the exploitation of animals.

Nibert links domesecration to some of the most critical issues facing the world today, including the depletion of fresh water, topsoil, and oil reserves; global warming; and world hunger, and he reviews the U.S. government's military response to the inevitable crises of an overheated, hungry, resource-depleted world. Most animal-advocacy campaigns reinforce current oppressive practices, Nibert argues. Instead, he suggests reforms that challenge the legitimacy of both domesecration and capitalism.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Politics, Vegan, Environment, Social Justice

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

Reviews

[Tristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars bc I agree with Nibert's arguments & think they're super important. Unforunately, Nibbs is a poor excuse for an academic who quotes at excessive length instead of organically developing his own points in a genuine manner. I have no idea how he got this text thru an editor. That being said, the bibliography he domesecrates is excellent & the text as a whole presents an incredible alt-history of animal exploitation and its direct relationship w human conflict, disease, genocide, all of which leads up to the development of disaster capitalism. But, just to complain a little more, by covering such an extensive time-line & range of topics over a relatively short book & drowning the reader in quotations/ non-nibbian thought, a focused thesis is often sacrificed in favor of a diluted text that goes in a hundred diff directions. Part of an academic's job is to organize an often massive bibliography & integrate it into their thought such that it supports & nuances their argument in a coherent manner, and dave absolutely blew it. The best sections of the book are by far the last few chapters where daniel stops his personal quoting crusade & actually develops his own thoughts about how capitalism and domesecration are like, dialectically destructive. I wish he would have done more of this :(((

[Микита Павлюк · Rating 5 out of 5]

My personal best reading of the year.
Brilliant analysis of historical processes about domesecration. Such a huge proof about our violent dominion over animals and other humans. We still pay for our errors.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly informative read linking the displacement and oppression of indigenous and marginalized peoples with the subjugation of animals. So few historical works mention this entanglement, or how it persists in the 21st Century.

[Foppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended, especially for those who care about social justice issues. 5th star because of the novel premise.

[Rico · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine book, although not written by a historian, covers a lot of fascinating historical material.

The big area it falls down in is trying to link the idea of animal use and capitalism.

Yes, animal use flourished under capitalism, but it was also evident in any other kind of political/economic system you'd care to name (on a country wide level).

The anticapitalist view is one that sees various problems in society and wants to replace them wholesale with something totally new.

What exactly? Often that's not clear, but there's a fair chance that there's a group lurking in the wings, ready to impose their wills on individuals.

Capitalism is constantly evolving. All it needs are more individuals to give them a better way - and veganism is that way.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such an excellent overview of the ways humanity has devastated non-human animals and human animals at the same time, all in pursuit of wealth (power). Nibert's index is full of sources, not just taken from the Internet, but books on all kinds of topics. Books that are not really meant to show the link between the oppression of non-human and human animals (and wherever would one find a book about the cattle industry in Florida? Who knew there was one there? And that someone would have written a book about it in the 1970s?) The sources are varied and wide, and therefore, make Nibert's position more credible. Of course, I am inclined to side with him before even reading his arguments, but his clear connections do help me feel like this is a viewpoint that is worth more exploration and more dissemination throughout activist movements.

There is so much information here, it's a wonder how Nibert is able to pick apart what is needed and assemble it in a coherent manner, but he manages. A little disclaimer here: I finished this about two months before writing this review and I'm a little rusty in what I remember. I could go grab my notes, but I'd have to then get up off my chair and get waylaid by some cats -- and this review would never get done.

I think the one thing I find most problematic with Nibert's theory is that he barely touches on the continent of Asia. There have definitely been despotic regimes in parts of Asia; how does that mesh with the exploitation of non-human animals? I wonder, too, if it would be possible for Nibert to do a companion book on issues not related to the use of animals as just food (although he does touch on some issues like leather, wool, and fur. But in any case, the reason for the four stars instead of five is because much of Asia is left out. Parts are mentioned briefly, but overall I'm left wondering: hey, what about this? The circle needs to be completed for this idea to really take hold.

I would definitely recommend this book to vegans and non-vegans alike.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great history lesson with a short argument at the end. It is written to draw your own conclusions, with a push in the direction of systematic change. His premises are very clear and by the end of the book you understand why he has dedicated so many pages to quotes and references. Some pages are quite graphic and unsettling, but it is the truth of the matter told through many perspectives.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting theory but as others have stated, poor execution. I managed to finish the book but it was a long slog. I wish it was written better because there are some important concepts here. No way could I recommend this book to someone else.

[Abigail Miles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for a class. So depressing. I mean, so true, but man, you do not come out of that book with any warm and fuzzys.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind-blowing. Devastating. Necessary.

[Asdrgil · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is like Beyond meat but ten times more complete. Absollutelly recommended.

[Ben Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely important book

[PBJ]

Unsettling overview of how the use of animals for food and labor relates to warfare and colonialism, as well as what can be done. Tough read but a good one.

[Corvus]

I decided to put this one down after finishing about 1/3 of it or so. The topics are important but the book wasn't what I expected. I thought it would do more connecting and explaining of issues of capitalism and animal exploitation but it's more if a extensively researched chronicle of colonialism and animal exploitation that is trying to fit way too much history in a very small space. It moved so fast I couldn't really sink into any period of time to fully grasp what was happening. Maybe my brain just doesn't work in the proper way to take in information that quickly.

[Julia Hawks · Rating 5 out of 5]

History lesson you don’t get in school

Perhaps more people would stop supporting animal agriculture if they picked up this amazing and incredibly insightful book. Well done!