International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy: Volume 41 Issue 3/4

Guest editorial

Indigenizing the Anthropocene? Specifying and situating multi-species encounters

The purpose of this paper is to articulate a meaningful response to recent calls to “indigenize” and “decolonize” the Anthropocene in the social sciences and humanities; and in…

Robotopias: mapping utopian perspectives on new industrial technology

This paper maps utopian theories of technological change. The focus is on debates surrounding emerging industrial technologies which contribute to making the relationship between…

Becoming-with in a compost society — Haraway beyond posthumanism

This paper considers the role of nonhuman animals in the thought of Donna Haraway, going from her critique of the animal as model/mirror for the evolution of the human body…

On progress and reason: stories of gods, animals and humans

While transhumanists and posthumanists understand the human condition as mutable, for transhumanists, this represents the possibility for enhancement, opening up a teleological…

Pippi's posthuman power

This study aims to probe the ambiguity of posthuman heroism by revisiting the remarkable story of the children's literature icon Pippi Longstocking. The purpose is to explore with…

On being posthuman in human spaces: critical posthumanist social work with interspecies families

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes a critical posthumanist orientation to social work as an approach to address the impediments to care experienced by…

Researching towards a critically posthumanist future: on the political “doing” of critical research for companion animal liberation

The purpose of this paper is to make a case for the political use of methods to shape posthumanist futures that are for animals. It makes this case by drawing on findings from…

Critical creatures: children as pioneers of posthuman pedagogies

This paper addresses two main questions: What is taught about animal ethics in primary school and how. Are these messages challenged by the students and, in that case, how and…

The vegan shift in the Australian animal movement

This article explores the different ways in which the vegan turn within the animal advocacy movement in Australia has played out for two organisations, Animal Liberation Victoria…

Muddied living: making home with dog companions

Focusing on everyday lives and relationships within the household, the purpose of this paper is to suggest that the quality of “home” is altered by the presence of animal…

Discipline and puppies: the powers of pet keeping

This article adopts Foucault's notion of a bipolar technology of disciplinary power and regulatory biopower to address the tension between discipline and freedom in domestic…

“No shit Sherlock”! Canine DNA and policing public space

This paper argues that this animal surveillance has the potential for considerable function creep going far outside the scheme's original objectives and acts as a conduit for more…

Cuddle, kill, conserve: a posthuman analysis of the African lion within the South African wildlife security assemblage

This paper explores the life cycle of a captive bred lion in South Africa, focusing on the distinction between captive bred and wild individuals. Lions are bred in captive…

Critical posthumanism for all: a call to reject insect speciesism

The authors articulate a posthuman politics of hope to unpack the richly embodied personal experiences and web of relationalities formed through repeated encounters with insects…

Promoting an emotional connection to nature and other animals via forest school: disrupting the spaces of neoliberal performativity

The concept of children's alienation from, and reconnection to, nature has gained international interest. The purpose of this paper is to explore how forest school as a growing…

What is the opposite of speciesism? On relational care ethics and illustrating multi-species-isms

This paper articulates a counter-concept to the notion of speciesism with the aim to encourage thinking beyond critique, towards imagining what non-speciesist worlds can actually…

Insurrection training for post-human politics

The purpose of this paper is to articulate an ontological anarchist approach for an engaged post-human politics and present insurrection training as a pragmatic tool for…