Contextualizing principles: Lebanon and social justice perspectives on disability reform
Main Article Content
Keywords
Lebanon, socio-cultural context, disability reform
Abstract
The country of Lebanon continues to fall short in the implementation of rights-based legislation that supports persons with disabilities. This article presents a theoretical framework for contextualizing principles that have proven effective in the US in order to mobilize social allies and reorient Lebanese societal perspectives on disability.
References
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Adams, R. M., & Adams, M. M. (1996). The problem of evil. Great Britain: Oxford University Press.
Akar, B., & Mouchantaf, M. (2014). Social [in]justices of women as school principals in Lebanon. In I. Bogotch & C. M. Shields (Eds.), International handbook of educational leadership and social (in)justice (pp. 705–727). Dordrecht [Netherlands]; New York: Springer.
Amr, M. (2011). Teacher education for inclusive education in the Arab world: The case of Jordan. Prospects, 41(3), 399–413. https://doi.org/doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11125-011-9203-9
Ayyash-Abdo, H. (2001). Individualism and collectivism: The case of Lebanon. Social Behavior and Personality, 29(5), 503. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2001.29.5.503
Bauman, H., & Murray, J. (2013). Deaf studies in the 21st century: “Deaf-gain” and the future of human diversity. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 239–253). London: Routledge.
Baynton, D. (2013). Disability and the justification of inequality in American history. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 16–33). London: Routledge.
Beyer, S. (2016). Commentary on “Employment for all: United States Disability Policy.” Tizard Learning Disability Review. Brighton: Pier Professional Ltd.
Damaj, M. (2014). The overpowering role of policies in constructing social identities of children with disabilities. In I. Bogotch & C. M. Shields (Eds.), International handbook of educational leadership and social (in)justice (pp. 993–1021). Dordrecht [Netherlands]; Springer.
Das, R. (2011). Profiles of poverty: The human face of poverty in Lebanon. Mansourieh: Dar Manhal al Hayat.
Davis, L. J. (2013). Introduction: Normality, power, and culture. In The disability studies reader (pp. 1–16). London: Routledge.
Frayha, N. (2016). Pressure groups, education policy, and curriculum development in Lebanon: A policy maker’s retrospective and introspective standpoint. In R. G. Sultana & A. E. Mazawi (Eds.), Arab “World”: Political projects, struggles, and geometries of Power (pp. 93–113). New York: Routledge.
Goodman, D. J. (2011). Promoting diversity and social justice: Educating people from privileged groups (Second Edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Hage, G. (1996). Nationalist anxiety or the fear of losing your other. Australian Journal of Anthropology, 7(2), 121.
Hertel, S., & Libal, K. (2011). Human rights in the United States: Beyond exceptionalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hess, J. S. (2011). The Lebanese way: A cultural propensity toward entrepreneurship. American University of Beirut. (Unpublished Master's Thesis).
Hofstede, G. H. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Publications.
Joseph, S. (1993). Connectivity and patriarchy among urban working-class arab families in Lebanon. Ethos, 21(4), 452–484.
Jurdak, M., & El-Amine, A. (2005). Reform of general education: Case study on Lebanese curricula reform. In A. El Amine (Ed.), Reform of general education in the Arab world (pp. 55–76). Beirut: UNESCO.
Khalaf, S., & Khalaf, R. S. (2009). Arab society and culture: An essential reader. (S. Khalaf & R. S. Khalaf, Eds.). London: London.
Khatib, L. (2008). Gender, citizenship and political agency in Lebanon. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 35(3), 437–451. https://doi.org/10.1080/13530190802525189
Khochen, M., & Radford, J. (2011). Attitudes of teachers and headteachers towards inclusion in Lebanon. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 16(2), 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603111003671665
Koplewicz, S., & Human Rights Watch. (2018). “I would like to go to school”: Barriers to education for children with disabilities in Lebanon.
McCabe, D. L., Feghali, T., & Abdallah, H. (2008). Academic dishonesty in the Middle East: Individual and contextual factors. Research in Higher Education, 49(5), 451–467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-008-9092-9
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Nagle, J. (2015). Between entrenchment, reform and transformation: Ethnicity and Lebanon’s consociational democracy. Democratization, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2015.1058361
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Nassar, J. R. (1995). Sectarian political cultures: The case of Lebanon. Muslim World, 85(3‐4), 246–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-1913.1995.tb03621.x
Ormsby, E. L. (1984). Theodicy in Islamic Thought: The dispute over Al-Ghazali’s best of all possible worlds. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.
Salloukh, B. F., Barakat, R., Al-Habbal, J. S., Khattab, L. W., & Mikaelian, S. (2015). Politics of sectarianism in postwar Lebanon. (R. Barakat, J. S. Al-Habbal, L. W. Khattab, & S. Mikaelian, Eds.). London: London : Pluto Press.
Schumm, D., Stoltzfus, M., & Service), S. (Online. (2011). Disability in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Sacred texts, historical traditions,and social analysis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230339491
Shakespeare, T. (2013). The social model of disability. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 207–214). London: Routledge.
Shuayb, M. (2012). Rethinking education for social cohesion: International case studies. (M. Shuayb, Ed.). Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Timeline: Lebanon assassinations - Al Jazeera English. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/12/2008525172717634160.html
Unesco. (2013). Social inclusion of young persons with disabilities (PWD) in Lebanon. Beirut. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/FIELD/ Beirut/images/SHS/Social_Inclusion_Young_Persons_with_Disabilities_Lebanon.pdf
United Nations. (1996). The standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. New York: UN : Stationery Office [distributor].
United Nations Department of Public Information. (1997). World programme of action concerning disabled persons. New York: United Nations Department of Public Information.
United Nations, & Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. (2018). Disability in the Arab region. Beirut: ESCWA.
Wehr, H., Cowan, J. M., & Wehr, H. (2012). A dictionary of modern written Arabic. New York: Snowball Publishing.
Wendell, S. (2013). Unhealthy disabled: Treating chronic illnesses as disabilities. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 156–168). London: Routledge.
World Bank. (2011). Migration and remittances factbook 2011. Washington, DC: World Bank. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/id/10430849
World Health Organization. (2011). World report on disability: 2011. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240685215_eng.pdf
Abouchedid, K., & Nasser, R. (2002). The limitations of inter-group learning in confessional school systems: The case of Lebanon. Arab Studies Quarterly, 24(4), 61.
Adams, R. M., & Adams, M. M. (1996). The problem of evil. Great Britain: Oxford University Press.
Akar, B., & Mouchantaf, M. (2014). Social [in]justices of women as school principals in Lebanon. In I. Bogotch & C. M. Shields (Eds.), International handbook of educational leadership and social (in)justice (pp. 705–727). Dordrecht [Netherlands]; New York: Springer.
Amr, M. (2011). Teacher education for inclusive education in the Arab world: The case of Jordan. Prospects, 41(3), 399–413. https://doi.org/doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11125-011-9203-9
Ayyash-Abdo, H. (2001). Individualism and collectivism: The case of Lebanon. Social Behavior and Personality, 29(5), 503. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2001.29.5.503
Bauman, H., & Murray, J. (2013). Deaf studies in the 21st century: “Deaf-gain” and the future of human diversity. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 239–253). London: Routledge.
Baynton, D. (2013). Disability and the justification of inequality in American history. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 16–33). London: Routledge.
Beyer, S. (2016). Commentary on “Employment for all: United States Disability Policy.” Tizard Learning Disability Review. Brighton: Pier Professional Ltd.
Damaj, M. (2014). The overpowering role of policies in constructing social identities of children with disabilities. In I. Bogotch & C. M. Shields (Eds.), International handbook of educational leadership and social (in)justice (pp. 993–1021). Dordrecht [Netherlands]; Springer.
Das, R. (2011). Profiles of poverty: The human face of poverty in Lebanon. Mansourieh: Dar Manhal al Hayat.
Davis, L. J. (2013). Introduction: Normality, power, and culture. In The disability studies reader (pp. 1–16). London: Routledge.
Frayha, N. (2016). Pressure groups, education policy, and curriculum development in Lebanon: A policy maker’s retrospective and introspective standpoint. In R. G. Sultana & A. E. Mazawi (Eds.), Arab “World”: Political projects, struggles, and geometries of Power (pp. 93–113). New York: Routledge.
Goodman, D. J. (2011). Promoting diversity and social justice: Educating people from privileged groups (Second Edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Hage, G. (1996). Nationalist anxiety or the fear of losing your other. Australian Journal of Anthropology, 7(2), 121.
Hertel, S., & Libal, K. (2011). Human rights in the United States: Beyond exceptionalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hess, J. S. (2011). The Lebanese way: A cultural propensity toward entrepreneurship. American University of Beirut. (Unpublished Master's Thesis).
Hofstede, G. H. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Publications.
Joseph, S. (1993). Connectivity and patriarchy among urban working-class arab families in Lebanon. Ethos, 21(4), 452–484.
Jurdak, M., & El-Amine, A. (2005). Reform of general education: Case study on Lebanese curricula reform. In A. El Amine (Ed.), Reform of general education in the Arab world (pp. 55–76). Beirut: UNESCO.
Khalaf, S., & Khalaf, R. S. (2009). Arab society and culture: An essential reader. (S. Khalaf & R. S. Khalaf, Eds.). London: London.
Khatib, L. (2008). Gender, citizenship and political agency in Lebanon. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 35(3), 437–451. https://doi.org/10.1080/13530190802525189
Khochen, M., & Radford, J. (2011). Attitudes of teachers and headteachers towards inclusion in Lebanon. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 16(2), 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603111003671665
Koplewicz, S., & Human Rights Watch. (2018). “I would like to go to school”: Barriers to education for children with disabilities in Lebanon.
McCabe, D. L., Feghali, T., & Abdallah, H. (2008). Academic dishonesty in the Middle East: Individual and contextual factors. Research in Higher Education, 49(5), 451–467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-008-9092-9
McLeskey, J., Rosenberg, M. S., & Westling, D. L. (2013). Inclusion: Effective practices for all students. Boston: Pearson.
Moss, C. R., Schipper, J., & Service), S. (Online. (2011). Disability studies and biblical literature. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137001207
Nagle, J. (2015). Between entrenchment, reform and transformation: Ethnicity and Lebanon’s consociational democracy. Democratization, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2015.1058361
Nakoul, S., & Perry, T. (2016). Lebanon’s Aoun wins presidency to end two year political vacuum | Reuters. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-presidency-session-idUSKBN12V102
Nassar, J. R. (1995). Sectarian political cultures: The case of Lebanon. Muslim World, 85(3‐4), 246–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-1913.1995.tb03621.x
Ormsby, E. L. (1984). Theodicy in Islamic Thought: The dispute over Al-Ghazali’s best of all possible worlds. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.
Salloukh, B. F., Barakat, R., Al-Habbal, J. S., Khattab, L. W., & Mikaelian, S. (2015). Politics of sectarianism in postwar Lebanon. (R. Barakat, J. S. Al-Habbal, L. W. Khattab, & S. Mikaelian, Eds.). London: London : Pluto Press.
Schumm, D., Stoltzfus, M., & Service), S. (Online. (2011). Disability in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Sacred texts, historical traditions,and social analysis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230339491
Shakespeare, T. (2013). The social model of disability. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 207–214). London: Routledge.
Shuayb, M. (2012). Rethinking education for social cohesion: International case studies. (M. Shuayb, Ed.). Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Timeline: Lebanon assassinations - Al Jazeera English. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/12/2008525172717634160.html
Unesco. (2013). Social inclusion of young persons with disabilities (PWD) in Lebanon. Beirut. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/FIELD/ Beirut/images/SHS/Social_Inclusion_Young_Persons_with_Disabilities_Lebanon.pdf
United Nations. (1996). The standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. New York: UN : Stationery Office [distributor].
United Nations Department of Public Information. (1997). World programme of action concerning disabled persons. New York: United Nations Department of Public Information.
United Nations, & Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. (2018). Disability in the Arab region. Beirut: ESCWA.
Wehr, H., Cowan, J. M., & Wehr, H. (2012). A dictionary of modern written Arabic. New York: Snowball Publishing.
Wendell, S. (2013). Unhealthy disabled: Treating chronic illnesses as disabilities. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 156–168). London: Routledge.
World Bank. (2011). Migration and remittances factbook 2011. Washington, DC: World Bank. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/id/10430849
World Health Organization. (2011). World report on disability: 2011. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240685215_eng.pdf
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Oct 25, 2022
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Additional Global Research
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Author Biography
William Merrifield, Centre for Lebanese Studies
Dr. William Merrifield lived in Beirut, Lebanon for 17 years and currently works as a research associate with International Development and Educational Associates (IDEAS). He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, an MA in Middle Eastern Studies, and an MA in Religious Studies. Merrifield’s research focuses on the role of social, cultural, political, and linguistic contexts in the development of contextualized educational policy and critical thinking.