Animal Welfare in China: Culture, Politics and Crisis

Description

The plight of animals in China has attracted intense interest in recent times. Speculation about the origins of COVID-19 has sparked curiosity about how animals are treated, traded and consumed in China today. In Animal Welfare in China, Peter Li explores the key animal welfare challenges facing China now, including animal agriculture, bear farming, and the trade and consumption of exotic wildlife, dog meat, and other controversial products. He considers how Chinese policymakers have approached these issues and speaks with activists from China's growing animal rights movement Li also offers an overview of the history of animal welfare in China, from ancient times through the enormous changes of the 20th and 21st centuries. Some practices that are today described as 'traditional', he argues, are in fact quite recent developments, reflecting the contemporary pursuit of economic growth rather than long-standing cultural traditions. Based on years of fieldwork and analysis, Animal Welfare in China makes a compelling case for a more nuanced and evidence-based approach to these complex issues.

Peter J Li is associate professor of political science at the University of Houston-Downtown.

'It is an absorbing, well referenced and easy-to-read book which gives a thorough account of animal welfare in China and will be a 'must have' textbook for scholars, animal protectionists and those interested in social welfare.' -- Pei Su * Wellbeing International * "[The book is] recommended reading for anyone interested in anthrozoology in the context of Chinese society and Chinese history more broadly, and could be considered essential background reading for operational advocates, academic researchers, and international agriculture policy-makers working in the region." -- Michelle Sinclair * Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science * 'Based on decades of firsthand experience and interviews, [the book] seeks to provide an insight into the history of animal welfare in China ... full of rich analysis and logical conclusions that counter the narrative that Chinese culture is the reason or even excuse for acts of animal cruelty.' -- Kelsey Granger * The China Journal * 'Peter is the go-to man for explaining what has happened and is currently happening in the arena of animal welfare in this highly diverse country ... Animal Welfare in China is a comprehensive review of the history of the ways in which nonhuman animals have been treated through the ages and what is currently happening in this highly diverse country. It also debunks misleading simplistic myths about what is happening in China. There are very few people who could write such a unique, timely, authoritative, well-referenced - the bibliography is an encyclopedic goldmine of information - and on-the-ground perspective of a wide range of topics including animal agriculture, bear farming, zoos, and the trade and consumption of exotic wildlife, dog meat, and other products.' -- Marc Bekoff * Psychology Today * "Peter J. Li is the world's leading expert on animal welfare in China, regarded internationally as the "go-to" person by international animal welfare and media organizations. ... The book's appeal is enhanced by its engaging writing, which is fun to read... I highly recommend Animal Welfare in China to everyone." Anthrozooes -- Gareth Davey * Anthrozooes *