The Politics of Ability and Online Culture Wars

Abstract

<jats:p>Conversations about 'fixed' or innate ability in relation to schools and education have generally considered – though not exclusively so – the psychological and sociological basis of ability, the practicalities and policy formulations. In this article, the author considers the emergent politics of ability and the culture war on social media which appears to be driving the discourse. He draws on his own research in this and presents an article which is intended to highlight the nature of the politics of ability and offer some insights into how practitioners and academics might move forward in a more productive way. Essentially, sustained debate over the nature of ability as fixed or as a flexible characteristic can prove to be irresolvable. He argues that what can potentially unite both sides of the debate is a greater sense of justice in terms of social class and political economy.</jats:p>