Abstract
In his latest book, Confronting Animal Abuse, Piers Beirne tackles the serious issues surrounding human–animal relationships in an original and thought-provoking manner. This new work could be viewed as a progression, or even extension, of the green criminology movement, of which Beirne is a recognized scholar.
Green criminology is most closely associated with environmental/ecological harm, but in his introduction, Beirne provides a sound explanation as to how and why animal abuse has a place within green criminological study. The harm resulting from social inequality and power differentials is at the forefront of green criminology, and therefore, human-inflicted animal harm fits perfectly within its scope. Confronting Animal Abuse represents, therefore, the confluence of Beirne’s work in animal rights, sociology, and green criminology.
Confronting Animal Abuse is unprecedented in its historical approach to the subject matter. Tracing the roots of animal cruelty legislation starting in 1635, Beirne provides a comprehensive accounting of the genesis of animal rights laws and governmental practices. Political, religious, and sociological motivations were the dominating forces, rather than altruistic concern for the animals. Included is documentation, news accounts and even artwork, pertaining to how society has regarded animal welfare over the centuries.
Although the historical aspect continues throughout the book, it is the main focus of the first two chapters. Other chapters concentrate on the practice of horse maiming and sexual assault on animals. The narrative dealing with the sexual aspects of animal abuse is extremely detailed and thorough. Beirne provides a very disturbing account of the variety of ways animals are sexually violated by humans. His central point, and a compelling one, is that animals are not capable of consenting (either explicitly or implicitly) to any sexual activity with humans. Therefore, the harm that is visited on animals in these situations should be viewed as such and neither excused, nor accepted.
Beirne examines the flawed speciest approach to criminology that has long been accepted and how such a mindset leads to animal mistreatment. There has been, and continues to be, both a tacit and overt tolerance, at the institutional level, of cruelty involving animals meant for consumption, research, or sport. Although there is some support for those animals deemed ‘companions’, this sentiment does not typically extend beyond this realm. Further complicating the animal welfare debate is the idea that animals are property. Beirne insists there would need to be a relinquishing of this sustained belief system in order for protections to be extended to animals on a greater scale. Along these lines, Beirne provides a framework for a paradigm shift in understanding human–animal relations and the related issues of social control. Although clearly an advocate for undertaking the challenges of these issues, he does not assume a dogmatic approach, but rather, provides a compelling, evolved line of reasoning as to why these issues are deserving of serious discourse.
Some of the most interesting work in the volume deals with the relationship between cruelty toward animals and interpersonal violence. Here, Beirne challenges prevailing support for the conventionally accepted causal relationship between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, an assertion he terms ‘the progression thesis’. Indeed, he explores the long accepted conviction that child/adolescent animal cruelty is a pathway to interpersonal violence. He does maintain that a relationship exists between the two, but what that relationship is, and how it is formed, is explored in an original way. Specifically, Beirne examines the research and possible flaws in the way the thesis has been pursued. For example, the commonality of animal cruelty (in their youth) among serial killers is often noted in criminal justice research, but Beirne raises questions about this correlation as well. Instead, he suggests a more appropriate thesis is that children who engage in assaultive behavior (toward animals) become desensitized to inflicting harm. This lack of compassion for the suffering of others, may lead to increased pro-violent attitudes, which may leave these individuals more likely to accept/participate in interpersonal violence.
There are difficult questions surrounding which non-human living creatures are deserving of respect and freedom from harm. Having sympathies for penal abolitionism, Beirne is not indicating formal censure as a highly viable solution when violations occur. He does not completely rule it out, but suggests sanctions from a rehabilitative point of view, when utilized at all. He is not proposing the creation or expansion of laws that would further add to the already flawed criminal justice and correctional system. Instead, he favors a restorative justice approach in general, with specific mechanisms such as humane education and constructive shaming. Beirne feels that by reshaping attitudes about animal welfare, the status quo can be changed for the better. This is a strategy that focuses on personal insight as a vehicle to foster structural change. Thus, what Beirne offers are real world suggestions whose resolute idealism also appears quite workable.
Confronting Animal Abuse provides informative and interesting reading for both an academic and non-academic audience, particularly for those with an interest in green criminology, animal welfare, sociology, or any discipline that includes the study of violence and victims. It is a superbly crafted historical assessment of how people, institutions, and governments gratuitously exercise power, create inequalities, and normalize harm in the chilling service of an (un)deserving human species.