Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK

This discussion paper examines how British Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) approach anti-racist and decolonial initiatives through the lens of Interest Convergence (IC). It highlights how institutional actions, largely sparked by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020, align with existin...

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Main Authors: Jens Klots, Uche Ogwude
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1560504/full
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author Jens Klots
Uche Ogwude
author_facet Jens Klots
Uche Ogwude
author_sort Jens Klots
collection DOAJ
description This discussion paper examines how British Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) approach anti-racist and decolonial initiatives through the lens of Interest Convergence (IC). It highlights how institutional actions, largely sparked by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020, align with existing neoliberal and capitalist priorities—therefore limiting their transformative potential. While efforts to participate in the Race Equality Charter (REC) and decolonise the curriculum have gained traction, they are often implemented in ways that fail to properly address systemic inequalities. Finally, a case is made for ritual theory as a potential vehicle to educate staff and students about IC, as ritualised activities can promote community building and wider cultural change.
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spelling doaj-art-fbbeab3596cb4fde83ea463b072a0f922025-08-20T02:16:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-04-011010.3389/feduc.2025.15605041560504Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UKJens KlotsUche OgwudeThis discussion paper examines how British Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) approach anti-racist and decolonial initiatives through the lens of Interest Convergence (IC). It highlights how institutional actions, largely sparked by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020, align with existing neoliberal and capitalist priorities—therefore limiting their transformative potential. While efforts to participate in the Race Equality Charter (REC) and decolonise the curriculum have gained traction, they are often implemented in ways that fail to properly address systemic inequalities. Finally, a case is made for ritual theory as a potential vehicle to educate staff and students about IC, as ritualised activities can promote community building and wider cultural change.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1560504/fullanti-racismcritical race theorydecolonisationinterest convergencerace equality charterritual theory
spellingShingle Jens Klots
Uche Ogwude
Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK
Frontiers in Education
anti-racism
critical race theory
decolonisation
interest convergence
race equality charter
ritual theory
title Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK
title_full Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK
title_fullStr Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK
title_full_unstemmed Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK
title_short Rotten from all that came before? How interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the UK
title_sort rotten from all that came before how interest convergence has informed and usurped initiatives for racial progress in the uk
topic anti-racism
critical race theory
decolonisation
interest convergence
race equality charter
ritual theory
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1560504/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jensklots rottenfromallthatcamebeforehowinterestconvergencehasinformedandusurpedinitiativesforracialprogressintheuk
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