36. Dinesh Wadiwel | Animals & Capital
In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor and Vegan Studies Initiative lead, Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, speaks with Dinesh Wadiwel, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and author of Animals and Capital (2023).
Together they explore how capitalism depends on the exploitation of nonhuman animals, drawing on critical animal studies, political theory, and Marx's analysis of labor and value. Their conversation examines animal labor, veganism, systems of violence, and more.
Inspired by this conversation? Continue exploring these ideas in Course 1025: Reading Animals & Capital with Dinesh Wadiwel, a rare opportunity to read and discuss the book alongside its author through guided modules and live Q&A sessions.
Topics: animal ethics, vegan studies, critical animal studies, capitalism, animal labor, political theory, nonviolence, human rights, and Engaged Jain Studies.
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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST
Dinesh Wadiwel is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney in human rights and socio-legal studies, with a background in social and political theory. He is an expert in human animal studies, and disability rights. He has a background working within civil society organizations, including in anti-poverty and disability rights roles. Wadiwel is the author of Animals and Capital (2023) and The War Against Animals (2015).
ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST
Jonathan Dickstein, PhD specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies.
Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike.
ABOUT ARIHANTA INSTITUTE
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic institution, Arihanta Institute is dedicated to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and public dissemination of real-world application of the Jain principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and compassion (karuṇā). Our mission is to empower individuals with knowledge to embrace and apply these principles as a force for positive change, addressing the most pressing issues of our time with courage and compassion.
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