Ambassadors of Social Progress: A History of International Blind Activism in the Cold War

Ambassadors of Social Progress explores how blind activists from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe influenced the postwar international disability movement, shaping its content and course. The study reveals that socialist blind politics went beyond propaganda, initiating an exchange of experiences that transformed global disability welfare and gave East European and Soviet activists new ideas and technologies to improve their own national movements.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 22 January 2024
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Ambassadors of Social Progress delves into the captivating story of blind activists from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe who played a pivotal role in shaping the postwar international disability movement. Through the insightful lens of Maria Cristina Galmarini, the book reveals that the international work of socialist blind activists was intricately intertwined with the broader politics of the Cold War. In many ways, it emerged as a field of competition with the West, where the East had the opportunity to showcase its strengths and achievements. However, Galmarini's study goes beyond mere propaganda, unveiling a profound exchange of experiences that had a lasting impact on all those involved.

As socialist activists joined the international blind movement, they initiated a transformative exchange of knowledge and ideas. This exchange not only transformed global disability welfare from a philanthropic endeavor to a self-advocacy movement, but also provided East European and Soviet activists with valuable tools and technologies to strengthen their own national movements. By examining the intersection of disability and politics, Ambassadors of Social Progress offers a deeper, more nuanced understanding of cultural relations during the Cold War. Galmarini's groundbreaking work significantly contributes to the relatively under-explored history of disability in socialist Europe, demonstrating that disability activism had a rich and complex tradition rooted in the socialist system of welfare. However, as the socialist system began to unravel in the post-1989 period, disability activism needed to be reinvented and adapted to the changing political and social landscape.

In conclusion, Ambassadors of Social Progress is a groundbreaking book that sheds light on the remarkable contributions of blind activists from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to the international disability movement. Through Galmarini's meticulous research and insightful analysis, the book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Cold War era and the complex interplay between disability, politics, and culture. It reminds us that disability activism is not merely an import from the West, but rather a deeply rooted tradition that requires adaptation and reinvention in the face of changing circumstances.

Weight: 907g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501773778