A new book by Professors Paul Chaney and Sarbeswar Sahoo was published on 26 September by Policy Press, an imprint of Bristol University Press. Civil Society Activism and Animal Welfare Rights provides a timely and in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of animal rights and governance.
The new volume argues that despite increasing legal recognition of animal rights, policymaking remains inconsistent, and that, hitherto, civil society’s role in shaping governance has been underexplored. Civil Society Activism and Animal Welfare Rights offers new empirical and theoretical insights into how advocacy groups influence animal welfare policy in the UK and India.
Applying extensive research and interviews with key animal welfare organisations, this book examines the challenges, progress and future prospects of civil society activism. It shows how animal rights and welfare have risen up the political agenda as parties have adapted to increasing public support.
The new volume examines social theory associated with civil society activism, governance and animal welfare rights; provides a global survey of animal rights policies and laws, explores the impact of devolution in the UK on animal rights, and sets out a detailed international case study of civil society mobilisation for the welfare of street dogs in India.
Professor Paul Chaney said: “the research for the book is based on extensive in-depth interviews with civil society activists. A clear message from them was the positive impact of devolution in the UK. Interviewees spoke of their frustrations in trying to engage Westminster and how the Welsh and Scottish governments and parliaments have introduced their own progressive policies and laws on animal welfare rights”.
Professor Sarbeswar Sahoo said the new book: “illuminates the key challenges facing those determined to advance animal welfare including, wider political (government) suppression of civil society, cultural attitudes, public awareness of animal welfare issues and the negative impact of a neo-liberal approach to development growth that privileges profit above justice and anti-cruelty concerns”.
This publication is the latest in WISERD’s Civil Society and Social Change series with Policy Press. The series provides interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives on the rapidly changing nature of civil society at local, regional, national and global scales.
Review:
“A well-executed book that successfully combines innovative primary research with deep philosophical reflection on human–animal interactions and the evolution of animal welfare policy, with particular emphasis on the role of devolved institutions and civil society in the UK and India. Strongly recommended.”
Alistair Cole, Sciences Po Lyon
The book is available in Hardback, eBook and Kindle formats, and is available to purchase on the Policy Press website. You can get a special 50% discount by using the code: DSC50 by 31 December 2025.