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Abstract
This thesis contributes to an emergent body of literature in disability studies that examines disability in the global South. Through investigating Disability Inclusive Budgeting (DIB), this thesis contributes to understandings of disability inclusion in government budgeting policies for development and its implementation in Indonesia as a country of the global South.
The thesis investigates the potential of DIB for realising disability rights in Indonesia post-ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The study uses multi qualitative methods including documentary desk-based review of policy documents, semi-structured interviews with government officials and disability activists, and focus groups with grassroots disabled people.
Three major findings are presented that contribute to the disability and development literature. First, the thesis finds that DIB was developed by the Indonesian government in response to international instruments such as the UNCRPD, and the Sustainable Development Goals that require them to implement disability inclusive development, and associated with the failure of welfare-focused approaches to achieve rights for people with disability. Second, the thesis identifies the challenges that have contributed to the slow progress of DIB implementation, described as paradigmatic and implementation issues, and identifies factors that can improve its implementation. Third, the thesis introduces the concept of difabel citizenship to capture the expectations of disabled people in Indonesia in relation to inclusive development. Using the framing of difabel citizenship, the thesis argues that DIB represents more than just a disability mainstreaming policy, but rather has the potential to enable disabled people to become active agents of development and therefore play a major role in realising the rights of persons with disability in Indonesia.
Drawing on the concepts of disability rights, inclusion and participation, disability citizenship, recognition and legitimacy, the thesis makes important interventions in disability, development and citizenship studies, and has significant implications for disability mainstreaming policy in development. Budget allocation through disability budgeting is not enough for successful disability mainstreaming in development. Disability mainstreaming policies must enable full participation of people with disability and their difabel citizenship.