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Positivist Neoliberalism's Disability Theory Of International Relations

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International Relations has overlooked people with disabilities for far too long; the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15% of the world’s population has some degree of disability (WHO & World Bank, 2011). How can a theory such as neoliberalism claim to explain the dynamics of the international system while overlooking over one billion people? In this paper, I will compare the positivist neoliberalism theory of international relations (IR) with a critical disability theory. Because there has been limited work done on creating a disability theory of IR I have had to largely take assumptions from the field of Disability Studies and translate them into a theory that advocates for the rights of those with disabilities and recognizes …show more content…

For example, if a building was made with ramps in place of stairs, wheelchair accessible bathrooms and offices, and office equipment that was height adjustable, then what lack of ability would someone in a wheelchair have? By providing these changes, their disability has been removed, although their impairment (having legs that do not function well enough for them to walk) has not changed. In 1975, the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) summed up the issue exquisitely: “Disability is something imposed on top of our impairments, by the way we are unnecessarily isolated and excluded from full participation in society (Slorach, 2016: 29).” Disability activism has typically engaged in identity politics, similar to that of queer activism (Anspach, 1979; Taylor & Raeburn, 1995; Prince 2012). It looks to replace the “self- and societal-conceptions of people with disabilities from passive, deviant, and powerless to positive, self created conceptions for themselves” (Prince, 2012: 4). A disability theory of IR would advocate for the acknowledgement of people with disabilities as valued members of society whose opinions are heeded by those in positions of power, and additionally are given the opportunity to be in a position of power

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Wendy Seymour’s 2001 essay “Putting Myself in the Picture: Researching Disability and Technology” best discusses the harm of this resentment. In her essay, Seymour contended how “resentment about some technological developments must be tempered by recognition of the enormous potential of others” (2001, 473). This discussion point by Seymour directly allows WGS scholars to observe how the pros of technology can outweigh the cons for certain marginalized groups, like individuals with disabilities. It remains crucial that WGS scholars acknowledge this multifaceted connection between technology and humanity in their future

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