Animal welfare under socialism: Anthropocentrism, instrumentalization, and ideology in the GDR

Pomeranian University of Słupsk

Keywords: GDR (German Democratic Republic), animal welfare, Marxist ideology, anthropocentrism, utilitarianism, animal rights

English abstract: This article investigates the German Democratic Republic’s (GDR) approach to animal welfare through the lens of Marxist ideology, focusing on the tension between utilitarian principles and anthropocentric values. It aims to analyze how the GDR’s socialist framework, which prioritized collective welfare and economic productivity, influenced its policies toward animals, often reducing them to mere instruments for human benefit. The study assumes that the GDR’s Marxist ideology shaped its policies and practices, including those related to animal welfare. It employs a methodological approach that comprises an analysis of official state policies, propaganda materials, and dissenting voices from that period. By examining these sources, the article seeks to uncover the ideological underpinnings and practical outcomes of the GDR’s approach to animal welfare. The research reveals that the GDR’s animal welfare policies were deeply rooted in anthropocentrism and utilitarianism, prioritizing industrial efficiency and agricultural output over ethical considerations. Despite its socialist rhetoric, the GDR often treated animals as economic resources, highlighting a contradiction between its professed commitment to socialist humanism and its actual treatment of non-human beings. The study also identifies broader ideological conflicts inherent in applying Marxist principles to animal welfare, particularly the difficulty in reconciling economic priorities with ethical concerns. This article contributes to the growing field of interspecies ethics by providing a unique examination of animal welfare within a state socialist system. It offers new insights into the complexities of applying Marxist ideology to non-human entities, shedding light on the tensions between utilitarian practices and ethical imperatives. By analysing the GDR’s approach, the study not only enriches historical understanding but also provides a framework for contemporary discussions on sustainable agriculture, animal rights, and the ethical dimensions of human-animal relationships.

Language: English

Published: Number 3(44)/2025, pp. 20-37.

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