Education in a troubled era of disenchantment: the emergence of a new Zeitgeist

This essay examines the emergence of a new Zeitgeist that has profound implications for education, particularly in the US. Following the dominance of neoliberalism, changes in society are reviewed that have been identified by many authors from a number of disciplines that are becoming more influential including globalisation, digitalisation, the surveillance and security state, populist politics, and post-truth claims and practices. Using a Zeitgeist analysis based primarily in Weberian disenchantment and the iron cage, a more central Zeitgeist of pervasive and institutionalised narcissism that encompasses the emerging eras is examined and identifies a number of issues and problems that arise for education and its administration.