Inclusion: Manifestations and Dilemmas

Abstract

This article critically explores the concept of inclusion, examining its theoretical, technical, and institutional manifestations across international and national frameworks. Through a review of 168 academic, institutional, and policy-based documents from Colombia and other global sources, it reveals how inclusion is frequently framed within hegemonic systems that reproduce existing inequalities under the guise of equity. The analysis highlights tensions between normative ideals and real-world practices, showing how inclusion often operates as a regulatory tool that assimilates diversity into dominant frameworks, rather than empowering pluralism. Drawing on critical theory, the study questions the effectiveness of inclusion as currently implemented and proposes an alternative vision based on the commons, plurality, and community-based resistance. This transformative approach calls for the redefinition of inclusion beyond the confines of neoliberalism and universalist logic, aiming to build genuinely diverse and democratic social systems.