INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHANGES IN EDUCATION
Research Article
Feb 09, 2026 1 0

The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education

Tom Jannick Selisko 1 * ,
Marius Dilling 2
1 Department of Education, Saarland University, Germany2 Else-Frenkel-Brunswik-Institute, University of Leipzig, Germany* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(1), 2026, 90-100, https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575
Publication date: Feb 09, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

This article explores the relationship between authoritarianism, Social Darwinism, and exclusivist attitudes toward individuals with disabilities in the context of inclusive education. Using the method of structural equation modeling, we test whether authoritarianism and Social Darwinism pose a barrier to inclusive education (understood as segregated placement, transmissive learning and teaching beliefs, and a medical model of disability). The sample consists of N = 215 student teachers and psychology students from a southwestern German university. The hypothesis that Social Darwinism plays a mediating role between authoritarian attitudes and exclusivist attitudes toward inclusion was tested for the first time. Findings confirm the assumed predictive relationship between right-wing authoritarianism and opposition to inclusive education. While right-wing authoritarianism and Social Darwinism are indeed significantly related, we do not observe, however, a significant relationship between Social Darwinism and exclusionary attitudes—a finding we discuss particularly in light of our sample. The results indicate that the opposition to inclusive education is based on a coherent attitude that is in compliance with authoritarianism. Practical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS

disability inclusion authoritarianism Social Darwinism attitudes

CITATION (APA)

Selisko, T. J., & Dilling, M. (2026). The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(1), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575
Harvard
Selisko, T. J., and Dilling, M. (2026). The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(1), pp. 90-100. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575
Vancouver
Selisko TJ, Dilling M. The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(1):90-100. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575
AMA
Selisko TJ, Dilling M. The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(1), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575
Chicago
Selisko, Tom Jannick, and Marius Dilling. "The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education". International Journal of Changes in Education 2026 3 no. 1 (2026): 90-100. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575
MLA
Selisko, Tom Jannick et al. "The Opposition to Inclusive Education: Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism and Their Impact on Exclusive Attitudes in Education". International Journal of Changes in Education, vol. 3, no. 1, 2026, pp. 90-100. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024575

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