Le véganisme à l’épreuve de l’animalisme francophone

Abstract

While the animal rights movement is becoming more politicized in the West, it is primarily understood as a movement promoting veganism. This perception diverges from the aim of animal emancipation espoused by animal rights activists. Consequently, this article, grounded in a three-year qualitative investigation within the animal rights movement of France and French-speaking Belgium, probes the "animalist paradox." This term encapsulates the discrepancy between the public's focus on veganism and the acti­vists' commitment to animal emancipation. The study characterizes the animal rights movement as embodying two distinct activist cultures, as conceptualized by Pleyers (2016): those of veganism and anti-speciesism. It elucidates that while a majority of activists are propelled by the goal of animal emancipation (anti-speciesism), a substantial number adopt a veganist approach. This approach posits that veganism serves as an effective conduit to an anti-speciesist society, reflecting its relevance to a multitude of current societal challenges. Veganism, posited as a formidable alternative to the crises plaguing contemporary capitalist societies, emerges as the strategic focal point for animal rights activists. This emphasis on veganism has led to its overrepresentation within the animal rights movement, despite the underlying anti-speciesist convictions of its proponents.

Keywords

• animalism
• veganism
• antispeciesism
• activist culture
• Lifestyle Movement