Of kitemarks, metrics and politics: Caught between institutional EDI objectives and a desire for an inclusive institution

In this paper I consider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work in UK Universities through the political philosophy work of Jacques Rancière. I draw on this work to distinguish between EDI work which has a policing function to uphold the status quo and that which has a political or activist function to bring about sustained positive change. While Rancière’s work helps us distinguish different types of EDI work, it does not necessarily help us understand how to move towards the latter. In order to explore this, the paper draws on the work of Sara Ahmed to operationalise Rancière’s distinction and set my lived experience across several institutions into context. I conclude that EDI work in universities mostly serves a policing function and is driven by the desire to achieve and maintain kitemarks and awards. It therefore often benefits institutions more than the people within them and is more about evidencing commitment to EDI than about EDI itself. Nonetheless, through three examples of approaches to work which include a focus on workload allocations, supporting of innovation and diversity in teaching and allocation of roles within departments, I show that resistance through activism, Rancière’s politics, can and must be possible even though it comes at a cost and is not always wholly successful.