SCELG Researcher Dr Iyan Offor Publishes Research on Global Animal Law

Jun 2022 — Dr Iyan Offor has published his research results in the Asian Journal of International Law, in an article entitled 'Global Animal Law and the Problem of "Globabble": Toward Decoloniality and Diversity in Global Animal Law Studies'. This article forms part of a special collection stemming from the Early Career Workshop on Critical Perspectives on Global Law and the Environment, hosted by the University of Essex. Dr Offor's article shares research results from his PhD, completed in 2021. Dr Offor and other scholars published in the special issue will speak at the Critical Perspectives on Global Law and the Environment on 21 June, available online and for registration here. 

New Research Results

Global animal law has emerged as a new legal subdiscipline and area of study following the widespread proliferation of animal law and animal law studies across the globe. However, there remains confusion as to what exactly global animal law is. Early global animal law studies are also entrenching norms that facilitate coloniality and neglect intersecting oppressions. In response, this article proposes a conception of global animal law based in global law metatheory and second wave animal ethics. This article critically analyses instances of “globabble” within global animal law, where global-speak has masked ethnocentric, western influence, and bias. This article recommends diversifying and decolonizing global animal law, relabelling some such work as western/European perspectives on animals and international law. It also recommends focusing on deep, critical, and radical animal justice in lieu of welfarism or rights-based theory. The article argues this could inspire a more interconnected, post-Westphalian, multilateral global animal lawscape.

Impact

This article intends to inspire a critical look at the western-centricity of much of global animal law scholarship to date. The goal is that this will inspire the creation of pathways for Global South and marginalised actors to take up a more prominent place in debates and activism surrounding animals and the law.