View source for Inclusion Culture

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==Social exclusion==
The dominant world culture functions on a principle of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_exclusion social exclusion]. This latter term generally refers to the alienation or disenfranchisement of certain groups within a society, such as people belonging to a specific class, race, gender, sexual orientation or age group (elderly and youth), or people with disabilities. But underlying the disenfranchisement of any specific group is the general tendancy of contemporary society to generate exclusion spontaneously on all levels.

There is a basic human tendancy to form groups, and to perceive the world as divided into those who belong to one's own group and those who are outsiders. During the neolithic this group was the tribe. With the invention of agriculture human society fragmented into a system of classes and castes, each defending its own interests. Modern representative democracy was formed in reaction against such systems of hereditary priviledge, introducing a notion of citizenship based on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality equality]. Thus the [http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr Universal Declaration of Human Rights] refers to the "recognition of  the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family."

But despite the general acceptation of the principle [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_before_the_law equality before the law], contemporary society is characterized by a high degree of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_inequality social inequality] coupled with an obsessive regard for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_status social status]. Its fundamental ideology is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_darwinism Social Darwinism] which sees competition as the main driver of social evolution. This ideal of relentless competition is promoted both in corporate culture and on reality TV (the latter being the reflection of the former).

==Exclusion and elitism==
The culture of exclusion is reinforced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elitism elitism], the belief that a select group of people with outstanding personal abilities and specialized training are more apt to understand situations and should therefore make decisions for others. The emergence of social elites at all levels is to some extent both inevitable and necessary, and can be particularly beneficial when social status is based on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritocracy meritocracy]. But elitism tends to reinforce social exclusion, particularly when combined with a philosophy of social darwinism. 

The focusing of attention and resources upon elites is especially marked in areas of rapid technological change, where know-how is critically important. Thus the field of the Internet in general, and of web startups in particular, is particularly prone to excesses of elitism and exclusion. This contrasts starkly with the supposed democratic and collaborative culture of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 web 2.0], with its emphasis on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-generated_content user-generated content]. I would suggest that this is the fundamental contradiction of today's web culture. (See also [[The Alterweb]]).

==Grassroots exclusion==
Patterns of elitism and exclusion are so deeply entrenched in contemporary culture that they are reproduced even at the grassroots level. The bottom-level elites that emerge within social action groups or progressive political parties tend to accumulate power and influence, thereby marginalizing less involved members, who suffer a type of exclusion similar to that found elsewhere in society. Since these bottom-level elites emerge by committing the most time and energy to the group, it naturally seems inappropriate to criticise them. Thus the issue of grassroots exclusion is never raised, and no consciousness of this internal problem arises in the one place in society that one might hope to find it. To overcome the universal reproduction of exclusion it would be necessary to develop a new sort of political activism based explicitly on a culture of inclusion.

==Building a culture of inclusion==
As mentioned above, Ivan Illich wanted to counter elitism by strengthening the aptitudes of ordinary citizens, which would be a constructive way to counter exclusion. But it is also necessary to take deliberate steps to develop a culture of inclusion, as opposed to the dominant culture of exclusion. The first critical step is simply to raise the issue of exclusion, to point out, as the present text tries to do, that this cultural issue constitutes a problem. Once there is an awareness that exclusion is in fact a problem, one can begin to work on developing an Inclusion Culture as an alternative.

The building of a culture of inclusion would involve trying to give citizens [[Convivial Tools]], and in particular [[Convivial Lifehacking Tools]]. But providing such means is less important than focusing on the ends. The aim should be to develop new cultural attitudes and behaviours that are more supportive to the ordinary members of any group. (It is well known however that cultural habits are what is the most difficult to change.) The habitual orientation of exclusionist groups or organisations should be inversed. Normally the rank-and-file give their attention and support to the elite leadership, and the latter proceeds to do great things in the name of the others. Turning this around means that whatever leadership emerges gives its attention and support to the rank-and-file, and helps the ordinary members to do things themselves.

==See Also==
*[[Michael's Projects]]
*[[The Alterweb]]

[[Category:Dustbin]]