Peter Gibilisco’s book has been reviewed by several learned people who have graciously given permission for their reviews to be published here:
Review by Timothy Marjoribanks, the supervisor of Peter Gibilisco’s PhD thesis upon which this book was based:
In his important and timely book Politics, Disability and Social Inclusion. People with different abilities in the 21st Century, Dr. Peter Gibilisco makes an innovative and major contribution to debates around, and our understandings of, politics, disability and social inclusion…
This review was written by Frank Stilwell and published in the Journal of the Australian Political Economy:
This book discusses the politics of social democracy, neoliberalism and the third way from a distinctive perspective, emphasising social justice in general and the politics of disability in particular. It engages with the theory and practice of contemporary economic and social policies from the viewpoint of someone whose primary concern is with social inclusion for people whose lives are otherwise outside the mainstream…
Read full review by Frank Stillwell
Review by Bruce Wearne, and published in Online Opinion:
his review, just like Peter’s book, is not about generating sympathy for Peter or for PhDs, and in fact it isn’t about tweaking reader sentiment for those facing the hurdles of disability. The author has actually re-written his PhD thesis to counter an ethos of conventional sympathy for the disabled with public policy that embodies active understanding. Peter is concerned that the culture of passive sympathy is counter-productive.
Read full review by Bruce Wearne
Review by Matthew Brett:
Terms like neoliberalism, third way and social democracy are thrown around with gay abandon in op-ed pieces across the world. For those outside of the academy or on the margins of political economy, these terms hold marginal relevance to the trials and tribulations of everyday life. For many inside the academy or immersed in the cut and thrust of political life, these terms are used with limited accuracy. Dr Gibilisco’s work provides a readable insight into the origin and meaning of these concepts, and their relevance to modern life. This in and of itself makes Dr Gibilisco’s work a compelling read, but there is also profound commentary around the relationship between major themes of political economy and disability which questions, challenges and subverts contemporary approaches to disability policy in the Australian and international context. Aspects of this work should be compulsory reading for researchers, policy makers and activists involved in disability policy and or an interest in achieving an inclusive society.