The paralympic movement and diplomacy: Centring disability in the global frame

Abstract

The chapter is concerned with the evolving engagement of Paralympic Movement actors with international diplomacy. It begins by considering our understanding of the diplomatic process broadly defined. From there, it maps how state diplomacy has become enmeshed with the Paralympic Games, while at the same time, from the perspective of multi-stakeholder diplomacy, the activities of the IPC as a disability rights advocacy body has been expanding. The chapter assesses these developments in the context of events relating to the London, Sochi and Rio Paralympic Games. It concludes by outlining the possible future trajectory for diplomacy as it relates to various actors within the Paralympic Movement. This includes efforts by the IPC to develop its international profile through, for example, responses to the global north-global south resourcing gap and an increasingly assertive approach to management of its relationship with the IOC.