A Democracy of All Learners: Ethical rationality and the affective roots of democratic leadership

This article contends that it is important for educational leaders to understand and re-own the historical roots of modern democracy. In particular, it highlights a foundational human capacity for shared ethical insight which characterises the rich conception of democracy that can be traced in this historical development. Implications for educational leadership are considered and the idea of recentring school cultures on the narrative and ideals of developmental democracy is elaborated.