Ali Abbasi, a researcher in the field of disability studies, states that 15 to 20 percent of the world's population consists of people with disabilities. This figure translates to nearly one and a half billion individuals; a population larger than that of all the residents of Europe and North America. However, Ali Abbasi emphasizes that if you flip through the pages of books and articles in the field of international relations, you will hardly find traces of this vast population. This strange absence indicates that disability in international relations studies is not a marginal topic, but rather a fundamental 'missing presence'.
Impacts of Disability in International Processes
Disability is both a direct result of many international processes and is almost overlooked in the analysis of these processes. Wars, arms trade, nuclear testing, environmental pollution, and the pharmaceutical market all extensively produce disability. Nevertheless, the field of international relations continues to keep this reality on the margins. This silence is not accidental, and ableism, as a set of unequal power relations based on the actual or perceived performance of the body and mind, is woven into the fabric of international relations concepts and practices.
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The Link Between Neoliberalism and Disability
One of the roots of this neglect is the deep connection between neoliberal capitalism and the definition of disability. In the logic of neoliberalism, individuals are divided into two categories: those who are 'capable' and productive, and those who are 'incapable' and dependent. People with disabilities are systematically placed in the second category. Researchers in critical disability studies show that the focus on productivity not only creates new forms of harm but also renders structural processes of disablism invisible.
Among the various fields of international relations, studies on war and post-war have shown more attention to disability than other areas. War is one of the largest producers of disability in the world, yet analyses in this field often remain superficial. Examination of peace agreements shows that people with disabilities are almost meaningfully absent at any stage of the transition from war to peace.
Challenges of Disability and Poverty
The relationship between disability and poverty is one of the most well-known realities of global development: disability creates poverty, and poverty also creates disability. The vast majority of people with disabilities live in the Global South. However, development studies have also kept this reality on the margins for decades. 'Inclusive disability development' policies promoted by some donor countries in recent years often reproduce Global North approaches.
The adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006 was a milestone in international attention to disability rights. This convention not only defined disability as an evolving concept but also highlighted the role of organizations of persons with disabilities in the process of drafting and implementing it. However, the impact of the convention in the Global South, where 80 percent of the world's persons with disabilities live, has been much less than in the North.
Researchers propose a set of critical concepts to overcome this deadlock, which can transform the perspective of international relations. These concepts include nationalist ableism, disability exceptionalism, and ontological security, reflecting the need for change in understanding and attention to persons with disabilities within the framework of international relations.
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