A tale of two ethoses: neoliberalism and action learning

ABSTRACT

The paper is an essay, rather than a researched academic work and explores the difference between two different ethe, neoliberalism and action learning. It considers two historical modernities and the emergence of a third, situating action learning and neoliberalism within this framework. It asserts that action learning and neoliberalism are antithetical and poses some challenging questions for action learning practitioners.

KEYWORDS:

• Action learning
• neoliberalism
• modernities
• leadership

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

John Edmonstone is Director of MTDS Consultancy, Ripon, UK. He is Visiting Research Fellow, Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. Among his recent books are Systems Leadership in Health and Social Care (Routledge, 2019) and Action Learning in Health, Social and Community Care: Principles, Practices and Resources (CRC Press, 2018).