“Like an Animal”

Abstract

AbstractAtsuko Matsuoka and John Sorenson examine two types of tropes, “like animals” and “treated like animals,” which commonly appear as accusation and complaint, or form of resistance, respectively, to gain understanding of how taken-for-granted human-animal relationships influence border politics of the nation state and are used to oppress (im)migrants/refugees. By using Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Animal Studies they show how the dominant maintain power and the less powerful challenge the dominant discourse and practice by using ideas about nonhuman animals and reveal the intersectional character of power and domination. They contend that an analysis of speciesism is a “must” to address injustice against (im)migrants/refugees and examination of border politics. Addressing justice must consider trans-species social justice.