Discussing Diaspora with Dr. Sargon Donabed The Shifting Lens: Viewing the Animal Experience

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Sargon Donabed to discuss the intersection of his research on Indigenous Middle Eastern cultures and Anthrozoology. Dr. Donabed is a Director of the Assyrian Studies Association (ASA) and holds a PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations and an MSc in Anthrozoology.

We discuss nonhuman animal populations that have been displaced and separated using the lens of human diaspora, arbitrarily drawn borders, and the concept of "home". Additionally, we consider the factors that lead us to focus on certain animal species or human populations over others, including assigned personhood and the optics of protective action.

Meet the hosts:
Tiamat Warda - www.humanima.de/en | @TiamatWarda
Molly Sumridge - www.mollysumridge.com | @MollySumridge
Rebecca Madrid - www.rebecca-madrid.com | @RebeccaLMadrid

ASA (Assyrian Studies Association) https://www.assyrianstudiesassociation.org/
*Reforging a forgotten history: Iraq and the Assyrians in the Twentieth Century: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/reforging-a-forgotten-history/40E789C116E3485B9B774BE46569EBEA
*The Assyrian heritage: threads of continuity and influence: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292782661_The_Assyrian_Heritage_Threads_of_Continuity_and_Influence
*Rethinking nationalism and an appellative conundrum: historiography and politics in Iraq: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14608944.2011.646973?journalCode=cnid20
*Remnants of Heroes: The Assyrian Experience: the Continuity of the Assyrian Heritage from Kharput to New England: https://www.abebooks.com/9780974445076/Remnants-Heroes-Assyrian-Experience-Continuity-097444507X/plp