Too Scared to Protest? How Workfare Restrains Political Citizenship

Welfare retrenchment and workfare policies have made it significantly harder for disabled and chronically ill people to get public support. Whilst a number of studies have mapped the effects on living standards and quality of life for these groups, we suggest that welfare cuts can also have significant effects on how people exercise their political rights. As work capability assessments are getting increasingly strict, people relying on support may fear that political engagements will be seen as evidence of work capacity. As a result, people targeted by cuts may refrain from protesting. Based on interviews with chronically ill activists and an extensive netography, we examine how sick and disabled activists in Sweden perceive and navigate this risk, concluding that stricter assessments of sickness insurance applications influence the propensity to protest against cuts. In effect, there is a significant risk that groups targeted by cuts are not heard in the social policy debate. 

Mikael Mery Karlsson holds a PhD in Gender Studies from Lund University and most recently held a postdoctoral position at the Umeå Centre for Gender Studies. The presentation at Crip and Queer is based on his postdoctoral research.

Niklas Altermark is a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Lund University. His research focuses on the welfare state and its transformation during the last three decades. He has a special interest in disability policy and social insurance systems.

Accessibility: The room is accessible for wheelchair users (automatic doors, accessible toilet, stair lift).

Contact: 
•    Elin Lundell elin [dot] lundell [at] genus [dot] lu [dot] se 
•    Irina Schmitt irina [dot] schmitt [at] genus [dot] lu [dot] se
 

The Crip & Queer Seminar series is hosted by the Division of Gender Studies. After the seminars, which are open to students, staff, and the general public, we serve fika in the kitchen on the fourth floor of Gamla Lungkliniken. 
Warmly welcome!