Date of Award
5-10-2026
Date Published
June 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Juridical Science
Advisor(s)
Arlene Kanter
Keywords
China;CRPD;disability;Education;human rights
Subject Categories
Law
Abstract
This dissertation empirically investigates the impact of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in China, with a particular focus on Article 24, the right to education. Using a mixed-methods approach, this dissertation addresses two central questions: whether and how Article 24 has influenced Chinese national policies on inclusive education; and whether and how the Chinese law that promotes inclusive education has impacted the lived experiences of students with disabilities in seeking educational accommodations. To examine changes in Chinese national policy, the study employs Critical Discourse Analysis of disability-related education laws and regulations. This analysis introduces the concept of “noncompliant effectiveness,” which distinguishes formal compliance from the substantive effects of international human rights treaties. To explore the treaty’s impact on individuals, the study draws on in-depth interviews of 58 university students with disabilities. These interviews reveal the “guanxi paradox”, a continuing relationship based on mutual benefits that simultaneously benefit and limit students’ ability to obtain educational accommodations. By combining policy analysis with personal narratives, this dissertation contributes empirical evidence to the broader debate over the effectiveness of international human rights treaties, generally, and the CRPD, in particular. This study also presents the first empirical legal study of inclusive education in China since the adoption of the 2017 Disability Education Regulation in China. Finally, by examining how law operates in the lives of students with disabilities, this work enriches the law and society literature on disability rights in practice.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Xie, Renci, "The Impact of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities on Education for Students with Disabilities in China: A Case of Non-Compliant Effectiveness with International Law" (2026). Dissertations - ALL. 2297.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/2297
