marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN)
@marxdisability.bsky.social
380 followers 27 following 92 posts
Study and engagement network with a particular focus on Disability Politics & Marxism(s). We hold monthly talks. To join the mailing list, check out our contact page: https://marxismdisability.wordpress.com/Contact
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marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jan 26
🟢Planning your time for the (new-ish) year?
🟢Intending to attend more Marxism & Disability monthly events this year?

Then look no further!

Add our monthly events (usually on the first Tuesday of the month) to your calendar now!
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/events-list/
#Marxism #Disability
Upcoming online monthly events of The Marxism & Disability Network (2024)
Coming up in 2025: On Tuesdays (usually) at 6.30pm BST/GMT February, Thursday 13th, 6:30pm (GMT) – Reading Group session on Health Communism March, Tuesday 4th, 6:00pm (GMT) – panel eve…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
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marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 11h
Many thanks to everyone who attended our October event with Court(ney) Felle yesterday!

Our next event will take place on Tuesday, 4 November from 6:30pm UK time

'Lost in the Supermarket: Vertigo and Capitalism as Embodied Crisis' - Anindya Raychaudhur
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/events-list/
Online monthly events of The Marxism & Disability Network
Coming up in 2025: On Tuesdays (usually) at 6.30pm BST/GMT To receive the Zoom links for the events below, please subscribe to the MDN mailing list. November, Tuesday 4th, 6:30pm (GMT) – Anin…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
1
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 5d
Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions

Tuesday, 7th October at 6:30pm UK time

marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/o...
October 2025: Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
I am interested in hosting a more collaborative discussion group around bringing a Marxist disability perspective to discussions of “rare disease.” I anticipate this would take the form of a short …
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 8d
This event is due to take place in a week's time! Join us.
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 17d
Tue, 7th October 2025 from 6:30pm BST

Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/o...
October 2025: Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
I am interested in hosting a more collaborative discussion group around bringing a Marxist disability perspective to discussions of “rare disease.” I anticipate this would take the form of a short …
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
2
Reposted by Marxism and Disability Network (MDN)
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 17d
Tue, 7th October 2025 from 6:30pm BST

Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/o...
October 2025: Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
I am interested in hosting a more collaborative discussion group around bringing a Marxist disability perspective to discussions of “rare disease.” I anticipate this would take the form of a short …
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
1 2
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 17d
Tue, 7th October 2025 from 6:30pm BST

Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/o...
October 2025: Courtney Felle – Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions
I am interested in hosting a more collaborative discussion group around bringing a Marxist disability perspective to discussions of “rare disease.” I anticipate this would take the form of a short …
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
1 2
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 28d
The video recording of yesterday's event is now available online!

Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form - with Keith Rosenthal

www.youtube.com/watch?si=hBF...
#Marxism #Disability
Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement (with Keith Rosenthal)
YouTube video by Historical Materialism: Critical Marxist Theory
www.youtube.com
2 5
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 28d
Many thanks to everyone who attended our event with Keith Rosenthal yesterday!

The next MDN event will take place on Tue, 7 Oct from 6:30pm BST, with Courtney Felle

'Where the ADA Generation and the Medical Model Meet: Young Adults with Rare Conditions'
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/events-list/
Online monthly events of The Marxism & Disability Network
Coming up in 2025: On Tuesdays (usually) at 6.30pm BST/GMT To receive the Zoom links for the events below, please subscribe to the MDN mailing list. October, Tuesday 7th, 6:30pm (BST) – Court…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
1
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · 29d
Starting in 15 minutes!!
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Aug 29
9th September 2025 from 6:30pm BST

Keith Rosenthal – Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form

Abstract: marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/s...

For the Zoom link, join our mailing list!
September 2025: Keith Rosenthal – Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form
A comprehensive Marxist theory of disablement remains an aspirational (rather than finished) project. The social model of disability provides an advantageous starting point, albeit limited by conce…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Sep 5
Happening next week!
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Aug 29
9th September 2025 from 6:30pm BST

Keith Rosenthal – Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form

Abstract: marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/s...

For the Zoom link, join our mailing list!
September 2025: Keith Rosenthal – Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form
A comprehensive Marxist theory of disablement remains an aspirational (rather than finished) project. The social model of disability provides an advantageous starting point, albeit limited by conce…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Aug 29
9th September 2025 from 6:30pm BST

Keith Rosenthal – Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form

Abstract: marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/s...

For the Zoom link, join our mailing list!
September 2025: Keith Rosenthal – Advancing a Marxist Theory of Disablement: Historical Modality, Labor Power, and the Commodified Value Form
A comprehensive Marxist theory of disablement remains an aspirational (rather than finished) project. The social model of disability provides an advantageous starting point, albeit limited by conce…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
3 5
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Aug 8
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference

Keynote by Ravi Malhotra (Professor of Law, University of Ottawa) – How Can Materialism Develop the Social Model (chair: Luke Beesley)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcCB...
#Disability #Neoliberalism #Marxism
(4/8)
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference - How Can Materialism Develop the Social Model? Keynote
YouTube video by Historical Materialism: Critical Marxist Theory
www.youtube.com
3
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 31
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference

Mobilising Rights, Building Movements session with P. Boopathi (chair: James Brittain)

Video: youtube.com/watch?v=bWqn...

Abstract(s): marxismdisability.wordpress.com/mobilising-r...
@slsauk.bsky.social
#Neoliberalism #Marxism (3/8)
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference - Mobilising Rights, Building Movements panel
YouTube video by Historical Materialism: Critical Marxist Theory
youtube.com
2 6
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 28
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference - For & Against Rights: Legalism and Resistance under Neoliberalism with Lizzie Hughes & Jenny Logan (chair: Ioana Cerasella Chis)

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND9H...

Abstracts: marxismdisability.wordpress.com/for-and-agai...
@slsauk.bsky.social (2/8)
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference - For and Against Rights: Legalism and Resistance panel
YouTube video by Historical Materialism: Critical Marxist Theory
www.youtube.com
2 4
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 25
The 8 video recordings of the Disability & Rights: The Possibilities and Limits of Rights Discourse under Neoliberalism conference co-organised/hosted with the SLSA Disability Law and Social Justice Stream are now available online!
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/07/25/v...
#Marxism #Disability
[Videos] SLSA-MDN Conference – Disability & Rights: The Possibilities and Limits of Rights Discourse under Neoliberalism
On Friday, 13th of June & Saturday, 14th of June 2025, the Disability Law and Social Justice Stream of the Socio-Legal Studies Association and the Marxism and Disability Network …
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
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marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 25
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference - Opening Remarks (Clare Williams) & Workers’ and Charities’ Mobilisation of Rights panel (Shruti Iyer & Linda Steele)

Video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6vx...

Abstracts: marxismdisability.wordpress.com/their-rights...

@slsauk.bsky.social
#Marxism (1/8)
SLSA-MDN Disability & Rights Conference - Workers’ and Charities’ Mobilisation of Rights panel
YouTube video by Historical Materialism: Critical Marxist Theory
www.youtube.com
2 1
Reposted by Marxism and Disability Network (MDN)
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 9
Are you interested in presenting and discussing your ideas on a topic related to disability through a Marxist perspective?

This autumn, we will be putting out a call for papers for the 2026 MDN series of events. Please consider submitting an abstract in a few months' time!

#Disability #Marxism
7 4
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 9
Are you interested in presenting and discussing your ideas on a topic related to disability through a Marxist perspective?

This autumn, we will be putting out a call for papers for the 2026 MDN series of events. Please consider submitting an abstract in a few months' time!

#Disability #Marxism
7 4
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 9
Many thanks to everyone who attended our July event yesterday!

In August, we will take a little break from the monthly series of events. We look forward to meeting everyone again on the 9th of September for Keith Rosenthal's presentation & discussion!
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/events-list/
Online monthly events of The Marxism & Disability Network
Coming up in 2025: On Tuesdays (usually) at 6.30pm BST/GMT To receive the Zoom links for the events below, please subscribe to the MDN mailing list. July, Tuesday 8th, 6:30pm (BST) – Clare&nb…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 7
This event will take place tomorrow at 6:30pm BST!

marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/j...

#Disability #Marxism #Capitalism
July 2025: Clare Williams – Ability Capitalism: The Constitutive Role of Law in Market Constructions of Disability
Taking markets to be specifically legal institutions, this paper explores the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability under capitalism. I draw on the works of Marx, Polanyi, Russell…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
1 3
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jul 3
Tuesday next week (8th July) at 6:30pm!

marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/j...
July 2025: Clare Williams – Ability Capitalism: The Constitutive Role of Law in Market Constructions of Disability
Taking markets to be specifically legal institutions, this paper explores the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability under capitalism. I draw on the works of Marx, Polanyi, Russell…
marxismdisability.wordpress.com
1 2
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jun 29
Just over a week left until our July event!
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jun 15
Our next monthly event will take place on Tue, 8th July from 6:30pm BST

'Ability Capitalism: The Constitutive Role of Law in Market Constructions of Disability' - Clare Williams
#Marxism #Disability
The Zoom link will be shared on the MDN mailing list
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/j...
Taking markets to be specifically legal institutions, this paper explores the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability under capitalism. I draw on the works of Marx, Polanyi, Russell, and Malhotra to suggest that disability, as a key market rationality determining the state-market boundary, is constructed through processes of legal coding or commodification. The law not only sets the foundations for markets, but predistributes rights and interests that shape actor preferences, acting as a fulcrum for balancing the conflicting demands of capital and, for example, labour. In the process, disability emerges as a keystone concept that can shift the fulcrum one way or the other, revealing and concealing standard and non-standard employment relations respectively and creating inequalities and oppressions in the process. I take insights from the “Great Homeworking Experiment” of the pandemic to explore what happens when background labour market assumptions are shifted and ask whether the legal duty to provide reasonable adjustments was impacted. By positing that mandatory homeworking during the pandemic might have shifted both employer and state preferences that feed into underlying efficiency calculations, alternative challenges to the ongoing disability employment and pay gaps are suggested that focus on decommodification rather than (legal) rights. What emerges is a theory of ability capitalism, or the constitutive role of law in capitalist market constructions of disability, that has the potential to reorient how we understand disability and respond to intractable inequalities. While developed in the context of the labour market, I suggest that ability capitalism can also be glimpsed in property (housing) and capital (debt) markets, and a “work in progress” session could include thinking through how and where we might glimpse the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability beyond labour, and which decommodification strategies might emerge as a result. Bio: Following my PhD (2019, University of London), I received funding for an ESRC-SeNSS Postdoc exploring how we do, talk, and think about law, economy and society. I joined Kent Law School as a lecturer in 2022 and my research explores an Economic Sociology of Law, as well as disability and social justice, legal design, and research methods. More recently, my empirical research into the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and remote working on disabled people’s labour market inclusion has led to the development of my theory of Ability Capitalism; that is, the constitutive role of law in market constructions of disability.
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Reposted by Marxism and Disability Network (MDN)
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jun 15
Our next monthly event will take place on Tue, 8th July from 6:30pm BST

'Ability Capitalism: The Constitutive Role of Law in Market Constructions of Disability' - Clare Williams
#Marxism #Disability
The Zoom link will be shared on the MDN mailing list
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/j...
Taking markets to be specifically legal institutions, this paper explores the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability under capitalism. I draw on the works of Marx, Polanyi, Russell, and Malhotra to suggest that disability, as a key market rationality determining the state-market boundary, is constructed through processes of legal coding or commodification. The law not only sets the foundations for markets, but predistributes rights and interests that shape actor preferences, acting as a fulcrum for balancing the conflicting demands of capital and, for example, labour. In the process, disability emerges as a keystone concept that can shift the fulcrum one way or the other, revealing and concealing standard and non-standard employment relations respectively and creating inequalities and oppressions in the process. I take insights from the “Great Homeworking Experiment” of the pandemic to explore what happens when background labour market assumptions are shifted and ask whether the legal duty to provide reasonable adjustments was impacted. By positing that mandatory homeworking during the pandemic might have shifted both employer and state preferences that feed into underlying efficiency calculations, alternative challenges to the ongoing disability employment and pay gaps are suggested that focus on decommodification rather than (legal) rights. What emerges is a theory of ability capitalism, or the constitutive role of law in capitalist market constructions of disability, that has the potential to reorient how we understand disability and respond to intractable inequalities. While developed in the context of the labour market, I suggest that ability capitalism can also be glimpsed in property (housing) and capital (debt) markets, and a “work in progress” session could include thinking through how and where we might glimpse the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability beyond labour, and which decommodification strategies might emerge as a result. Bio: Following my PhD (2019, University of London), I received funding for an ESRC-SeNSS Postdoc exploring how we do, talk, and think about law, economy and society. I joined Kent Law School as a lecturer in 2022 and my research explores an Economic Sociology of Law, as well as disability and social justice, legal design, and research methods. More recently, my empirical research into the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and remote working on disabled people’s labour market inclusion has led to the development of my theory of Ability Capitalism; that is, the constitutive role of law in market constructions of disability.
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marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jun 19
Missed our June MDN event on 'Disablement in the Socialist World' with Luke Beesley and Bertold Scharf? We're happy to announce that the video recording is now available on YouTube!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-69t...

#Marxism #Disability #DisabilitySky
Disablement in the Socialist World (with Luke Beesley and Bertold Scharf)
YouTube video by Historical Materialism: Critical Marxist Theory
www.youtube.com
3
marxdisability.bsky.social
Marxism and Disability Network (MDN) @marxdisability.bsky.social · Jun 15
Our next monthly event will take place on Tue, 8th July from 6:30pm BST

'Ability Capitalism: The Constitutive Role of Law in Market Constructions of Disability' - Clare Williams
#Marxism #Disability
The Zoom link will be shared on the MDN mailing list
marxismdisability.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/j...
Taking markets to be specifically legal institutions, this paper explores the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability under capitalism. I draw on the works of Marx, Polanyi, Russell, and Malhotra to suggest that disability, as a key market rationality determining the state-market boundary, is constructed through processes of legal coding or commodification. The law not only sets the foundations for markets, but predistributes rights and interests that shape actor preferences, acting as a fulcrum for balancing the conflicting demands of capital and, for example, labour. In the process, disability emerges as a keystone concept that can shift the fulcrum one way or the other, revealing and concealing standard and non-standard employment relations respectively and creating inequalities and oppressions in the process. I take insights from the “Great Homeworking Experiment” of the pandemic to explore what happens when background labour market assumptions are shifted and ask whether the legal duty to provide reasonable adjustments was impacted. By positing that mandatory homeworking during the pandemic might have shifted both employer and state preferences that feed into underlying efficiency calculations, alternative challenges to the ongoing disability employment and pay gaps are suggested that focus on decommodification rather than (legal) rights. What emerges is a theory of ability capitalism, or the constitutive role of law in capitalist market constructions of disability, that has the potential to reorient how we understand disability and respond to intractable inequalities. While developed in the context of the labour market, I suggest that ability capitalism can also be glimpsed in property (housing) and capital (debt) markets, and a “work in progress” session could include thinking through how and where we might glimpse the constitutive role of law in constructions of disability beyond labour, and which decommodification strategies might emerge as a result. Bio: Following my PhD (2019, University of London), I received funding for an ESRC-SeNSS Postdoc exploring how we do, talk, and think about law, economy and society. I joined Kent Law School as a lecturer in 2022 and my research explores an Economic Sociology of Law, as well as disability and social justice, legal design, and research methods. More recently, my empirical research into the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and remote working on disabled people’s labour market inclusion has led to the development of my theory of Ability Capitalism; that is, the constitutive role of law in market constructions of disability.
2 4
Reposted by Marxism and Disability Network (MDN)
rozsa.bsky.social
Matthew Rozsa @rozsa.bsky.social · Jun 15
It was an honor to speak at the International Marxism and Disability Network.

My subject? How neurodivergent people suffer disproportionately under capitalism.

democracyatwork.substack.com/p/matthew-ro...

@democracyatwork.bsky.social
Matthew Rozsa's Lecture at the Marxism and Disability Network
I would like to share with you my lecture to the Marxism and Disability Network I spoke on May 6, 2025 at the International Marxism and Disability Network.
democracyatwork.substack.com
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