The Politics of Disablement — Existing Possibilities

The final two chapters will consist of an analysis of the current provision of services, a consideration of future trends within the capitalist state and a more speculative and visionary discussion of alternative possibilities. A critique of the current restructuring of the welfare state along lines set by the political right will be provided and this will be followed by a consideration of alternative conceptualisations provided by the political left. Finally it will be argued that we need to move beyond the traditional left—right framework for understanding political activities, with its associated and traditional notions of interest representation, and move towards an understanding of the disability movement as part of the development of new social movements, characteristic of late capitalism. Only then will we begin to grasp the importance of the politics of disablement.