Is agonism an anachronism? In defence of conflict-based theories of democracy in education

Agonistic theories of democracy, particularly the work of Chantal Mouffe, have garnered increasing attention in democratic education in recent years. Such approaches have also been met with criticism, however. One recent objection holds that agonism is ill suited to our current, highly polarised, political moment and that its application in education risks exacerbating conflict and division in ways that are detrimental to democratic life. In this paper, the author addresses these concerns, asking whether agonism is an anachronism, so specific to the geo-political context of its origins that it is no longer helpful either for understanding politics, or as an inspiration for democratic education. McDonnell argues that Mouffe’s agonistic democracy still holds relevant insights for politics and education today and indeed was somewhat prescient of our current moment. However, more critical and creative consideration of its direct applicability to practice in educational settings would be beneficial for harnessing its power.