New Books Network Eva Meijer, "Multispecies Assemblies" (Vine Press, 2025)
Oct 21, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Eva Meijer, a dynamic philosopher and artist known for her work on nonhuman rights and politics, introduces her concept of multispecies assemblies. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the agency of animals and plants in political discourse. Meijer shares insights on community practices inspired by her garden, the role of consent in local politics, and the need to rethink our understanding of intelligence across species. With a focus on fostering collaboration among all beings, Meijer's vision offers a hopeful path toward ecological justice.
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Life With Multispecies Housemates
- Eva Meijer described living with Doris, a Romanian ex-street dog, and Mies the cat while working as a philosopher and artist.
- She co-runs a multispecies art collective that makes art for and with nonhuman audiences to highlight nonhuman agency.
Language, Power, And Political Ignorance
- Meijer links language, political agency, and power to argue humans often define how others should live without asking them.
- She proposes multispecies assemblies as a starting institutional model to learn political practices with nonhuman beings.
Garden Sparked The Assembly Idea
- Meijer recounts transforming an empty garden into a thriving multispecies space with trees, insects, birds, amphibians, and a hedgehog.
- The garden prompted her to consider democratic decision-making that includes all beings who use and depend on that space.
