Crippling (Homo)nationalism

Abstract

Discussions on homonationalism have drawn attention to how some LGBT bodies are accepted as worthy nation-state participants. Concomitantly, critical disability studies have analysed how ableism is entangled with neoliberal capitalism and nationalist formations. They have also begun to address the partial inclusion of “normatively disabled”/ “able disabled” bodies into neoliberal systems and state institutions. This troubled incorporation of certain disabled people and disability rights discourse into the neoliberal nation-state is currently an underdeveloped area of study. This chapter explores the entanglements of “neoliberal-ableism” and critical disability theory. Utilising Puar’s framework on homonationalism as a starting point, we propose a theory of crip-nationalism. We examine how the healthcare and welfare system, the borders and immigration system, and the criminal justice system serve to recognise and include certain disabled bodies into the contemporary British neoliberal state. This comes at a time of austerity, the rolling back of the welfare state, and the ramifications of Brexit. We argue that this recognition provides limited rights and support to people with disabilities who best assimilate into the neoliberal-ableist nation-state. At the same time, it justifies the violent exclusion and incarceration of “other” people with disabilities. By probing these entanglements, we show the importance both of establishing a dialogue between disability studies and queer studies and of confronting the allure of seeking recognition from the British neoliberal nation-state. In arguing this, we stress the need to resist the neoliberal nation-state by teaching against crip-nationalism and building solidarity across oppressed groups.