In the Shadows of the Iron Curtain: The Forgotten Legacy of Vygotsky’s Defectology

Vygotsky’s ideas on disability, termed “defectology,” influenced special education in state-socialist countries but were marginalised in the West due to negative connotations and links to outdated welfare systems. This study reconstructs the conceptual history of Vygotsky’s defectology and explores its neglect compared to his other work. It examines how his defectology shaped post-war educational approaches to disability and why his methods faced barriers in various countries. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines a literature review with semi-structured interviews from 2024 with scholars in Germany, Romania, and Russia. Findings indicate that Soviet defectology diverged from Vygotsky’s ideas after his death in 1934, contributing to their marginalisation. The study highlights ideological and practical challenges shaping the reception of Vygotsky’s defectology in Eastern and Western contexts.