Michael Glover

Dr Michael Glover is an animal historian interested principally in animals’ subjective historical experiences. His current focus area is mostly southern Africa, and his work is preoccupied with cattle. He is a postdoctoral research fellow at the International Studies Group, University of the Free State (UFS), and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. He has degrees in philosophy, English literature, historical studies and education technology.  Michael conducted his PhD research via Leiden University and the UFS. His thesis was titled Cattle and colonialism: an animal-centred history of southern Africa, 1652-1980s and was awarded in 2021. He is an associate fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and a member of the Australasian Animal Studies Association. Michael has published in animal history, economic history, animal ethics, Activity Theory, decoloniality theory, and open education. With co-editor Dr Les Mitchell, Michael recently (July 2023) submitted an edited volume for production to Palgrave Macmillan entitled Animals as Experiencing Entities: Theories and Historical Narratives. His most recent publication is “That other me, down and dreaming”: an animal perspective critique of decoloniality theory” Social Dynamics (2023).

During his fellowship at African Studies Centre Leiden, Michael’s primary objective is to produce a submission-ready monograph to Brill Press entitled Colonised cattle: an animal history of southern Africa. The monograph is based on his thesis but is under revision in light of feedback. He also hopes to present a seminar about critiques of decoloniality theory from an animal perspective, attend relevant seminars, attend a conference in Amsterdam, connect with colleagues, and enjoy the calm predictability of the Netherlands.