Teodor Mladenov
Search for other papers by Teodor Mladenov in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Independent Living and the market
Abstract only
Log-in for full text

Chapter 4 explores the relationships between Independent Living and the market, focusing on neoliberal thought and practice as epitomes of contemporary marketisation. The central argument of the chapter is that Independent Living’s deétatisation-enabling critique of professional power, biopower, and the juridical–administrative–therapeutic state has converged with neoliberalisation only partially and superficially, while diverging at a deeper level. The chapter begins by discussing the impact of neoliberal marketisation on the welfare regimes outlined so far and the implications of this for Independent Living advocacy. Special attention is paid to the neoliberalisation of subjectivity, as reflected in internalising market-based demands for self-enhancement and productivity (auto-exploitation). The chapter proceeds by considering these features of our neoliberal present as integral to the historical transition from biopower to psychopower and from ‘societies of discipline’ to ‘societies of control’, drawing on the work of Gilles Deleuze, Bernard Stiegler, and Byung-Chul Han. This account helps identify more clearly some of the convergences between Independent Living and neoliberalism, but also outlines how Independent Living has diverged from neoliberalisation. Independent Living’s discord with neoliberal psychopower and productivist control is identified in the movement’s preference for quasi-marketisation (as opposed to radical marketisation), embrace of self-determination (as opposed to self-enhancement and auto-exploitation), and promotion of egalitarian, peer-based collectivism (as opposed to liberal individualism). These points are evidenced by studying the ‘technologies of the self’ in a prominent model of personal assistance described by the Independent Living pioneer Adolf Ratzka.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

All of MUP's digital content including Open Access books and journals is now available on manchesterhive.

 

Metrics

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 21254 21254 18898
Full Text Views 0 0 0
PDF Downloads 0 0 0