Neighbourhood opposition to relocation of people with disabilities in Lithuania: 'fake ethics' in the community discourse.

This article examines the ethical dimensions of community participation and media discourse in Lithuania's deinstitutionalization process, which involves relocating people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities from large residential institutions to community-based group homes. It highlights the resistance from local communities rooted in entrenched social attitudes or "habitus" inherited from the Soviet era, often expressed through manipulative or "fake ethics" arguments that mask prejudice with references to disability rights. The study finds that people with disabilities themselves are largely excluded from public and media discussions, while the Ministry of Social Security and Labour leads the reform with limited community involvement, contributing to mistrust and conflict. News media tend to amplify community opposition without adequately representing the perspectives of people with disabilities or supportive voices, thereby influencing public attitudes and complicating inclusion efforts. The authors conclude that earlier, genuine community engagement and the involvement of community social workers are essential to foster solidarity, ethical discourse, and successful deinstitutionalization.