Independent living in Central and Eastern Europe? The challenges of post-socialist deinstitutionalization

Teodor Mladenov, Gabor Petri

Research output: Contribution to Book/Report typesChapterpeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

This chapter focuses on the right of disabled people to independent living – as stipulated in Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – by discussing the reform of ‘deinstitutionalization’ in present-day, post-socialist Central and Eastern Europe. We argue that post-socialist deinstitutionalization has often produced re-institutionalizing outcomes that have defied the very aims and principles of the reform. To explain this, we consider the impact of inherited state socialist constructions of disability, neoliberal reforms following the demise of state socialism in 1989, and more recent processes of European Union (EU) integration. These general historical and social-theoretical considerations are supported by content analysis of disability policy documents and case studies of domestic mobilizations from Hungary and Bulgaria. In conclusion, we propose strategies for moving ahead with deinstitutionalization reform in the post-socialist region of Central and Eastern Europe so that the provisions of Article 19 can be effectively realized.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEU Social Inclusion Policies in Post-Socialist Countries
Subtitle of host publicationTop-Down and Bottom-Up Perspectives on Implementation
EditorsIngrid Fylling, Elena Baciu, Janne Breimo
PublisherRoutledge Taylor & Francis Group
Pages16-34
Number of pages19
ISBN (Electronic)9780429434549
ISBN (Print)9781138352803, 9780367785352
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Central and Eastern Europe
  • Post-socialism
  • Disability movement
  • Public policy
  • Social policy
  • Human rights
  • BULGARIA
  • HUNGARY

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