MACMILLAN The Palgrave Handbook of Disability and Citizenship in the Global South (Palgrave Studies in Disability and International Development)

This handbook questions, debates and subverts commonly held assumptions about disability and citizenship in the global postcolonial context. Discourses of citizenship and human rights, so elemental to strategies for addressing disability-based inequality in wealthier nations, have vastly different ramifications in societies of the Global South, where resources for development are limited, democratic processes may be uncertain, and access to education, health, transport and other key services cannot be taken for granted.  In a broad range of areas relevant to disability equity and transformation, an eclectic group of contributors critically consider whether, when and how citizenship may be used as a lever of change in circumstances far removed from UN boardrooms in New York or Geneva. Debate is polyvocal, with voices from the South engaging with those from the North, disabled people with nondisabled, and activists and politicians intersecting with researchers and theoreticians. Along the way, accepted wisdoms on a host of issues in disability and international development are enriched and problematized.  The volume explores what life for disabled people in low and middle income countries tells us about subjects such as identity and intersectionality, labour and the global market, family life and intimate relationships, migration, climate change, access to the digital world, participation in sport and the performing arts, and much else.   Review “Most persons with disabilities in the world live in poorer countries, and in these countries there are often many barriers to their full participation in society.  There is, furthermore, a strong relationship between disability and poverty. Despite these facts, most of what is known about disability, citizenship and participation comes from rich countries. This book makes a very important contribution to redressing the balance.  A wide range of expert authors discuss topics ranging from political participation to sexuality, education to sport. The book serves as an important challenge to anyone serious about development issues in the Global South and I strongly recommend it.” (Mussa Chiwaula, Director General, Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled, Botswana)“This book is an extremely important contribution to global disability scholarship and advocacy. Bringing together leading voices from the Global South and North, the volume explores what citizenship and civic participation means for people with disabilities living in countries with differing cultural, political and economic challenges.  It belongs on the shelf of everyone concerned with global disability rights, but it is no less important―should be widely read―by all concerned with politics, social justice, and human rights. Highly recommended!” (Nora Ellen Groce, Director, Leonard Cheshire Research Centre, University College London, UK) About the Author Brian Watermeyer is Senior Research Officer in the Division of Disability Studies, Department of Health and Rehabilitation sciences, at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.  Judith McKenzie is Associate Professor in the Division of Disability Studies, Department of Health and Rehabilitation sciences, at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.    Leslie Swartz is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.