Course 9: Disability, Illness, and Poverty: Identities on the margin and the effects of global forces

Unifob, Stein Rokkan Centre for Interdisciplinary Social Studies (The Rokkan Centre)

Course Leader:

Invited course leader:

  • Stuart Blume , Professor , Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Amsterdam. Blume is also the leader of Innovia Foundation on Medicine Technology and Society – a virtual research institute concerned with user perspectives on new health care technologies.

Guest lecturers:

Short Course description:

One of the aims of this workshop is to bring disability studies into the centre stage of social science developments. In order to do this we will draw upon fresh research and literature in the fields of medical anthropology/medical sociology and disability research. We will present new perspectives and new research in this field and invite interested recruits to join this PhD-workshop. By focusing on concepts such as “Globalization, Technologies, Disability, Illness, Poverty, Bodies and Gender” we aim at providing a fresh and up-to-date outlook on key contemporary questions and challenges. From various theoretical perspectives (political science, social anthropology, and sociology), and through in-depth analysis of empirical cases, we shall explore common questions: What is the relation between multiple individual identities, cultural diversity and political recognition of group differences? How are differences and hierarchies within groups handled? And how does this affect public policy and service provision for disabled people and people with chronic illnesses? How do the new technologies and services interfere with lived experiences and personal narratives? What is the relation between poverty and illness/disability, and access/usability of services/technology?

For full course description and syllabus: Click here (PDF)