Spirits of memory, connection and hope: reflections on the past, present and future of our contributions to critical management learning and education

In this chapter we connect with three ghostly characters from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In ‘the ghosts of papers past’, we talk about our historical connection to the achievements and shortcomings of critical management learning and education (CML&E) by reflecting on our own scholarship. There are enduring themes that continue to resonate and speak to us. There are elements to this that are also incomplete and unfulfilled. In ‘the spirit of papers present’, we talk about how the past resides in what we are doing now, and what we believe needs to be done to secure a future for CML&E. In ‘the spectre of diminishing words’, we consider our legacy in CML&E. We express our hope for the future of CML&E, and we reflect on letting go – on becoming ghosts ourselves.