The Future of Education

In recent years, accepted norms and values regarding diversity, equity and inclusion have come under increasing attack, particularly in the United States. This is a concerted campaign of outright hostility to measures taken to address historic impacts of discrimination and segregation. The emergence of diversity management initiatives after World War II was based on a military response to the negative impact of discrimination. These initiatives paralleled powerful new legislative and policy advances in landmark decisions regarding equality in terms of race, gender and disability. The evidence points to a sustained improvement in the opportunities open to non-traditional learners over many decades. Internationally, diversity and inclusion became essential elements in educational reform and are powerfully reflected in programs such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The nature and specificity of organized ideological attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are a matter of significant concern, compounded by the fact that since January 2025 it is increasingly part of US Government policy priorities to reverse any and all such initiatives and (more disturbingly) the values and thinking underpinning them. Legislative bans and restrictions are being enforced at both federal and State levels abolishing or restricting DEI programs and prohibiting associated training for staff or students. In further developments, associated topics around racism, sexism, privilege, identity have been banned. At university level, free speech is severely compromised with academics and students who espouse equity and equality labelled dangerous or even illegal. The very words that underpin discourse on DEI are now forbidden and educational institutions are seeing their continued funding dependent on conforming to the new Administration’s rejection of DEI. This paper will examine the roots of this counterattack on principles underlying inclusive education. It will trace the achievements of inclusionary best practice and interrogate the role of powerful forces and monopolistic media in attacking justice-based principles of equity. The role and operation of inclusion as a principle of quality education will be assessed in light of this seismic policy shift. While the immediate crisis is in the United States, the paper will address the situation of DEI internationally with particular reference to Europe. The future of inclusion as both principle and method in achieving rights and participation will be evaluated.