This book examines three sites of pedagogical innovation, all of which are explicitly activisms against the current political and pedagogical climate. Drawing on an interdisciplinary framework including autonomous Marxism, post-anarchism, social movement theories and theories of critical pedagogy, it examines social movements though a pedagogical lens and attempts to understand how connections can be made between social movement learning and other initiatives and forms of higher learning. With studies of the London Occupy! movement; The Social Science Centre, a co-operative higher learning provider that practises popular education in city venues; and a university politically opposing the ‘student as consumer’ ethos, Spaces of Political Pedagogy connects these various projects as a continuum of educational experimentation, offering insights into the ways in which these sites practice pedagogy and the manner in which these practices could be implemented more widely to inform and improve struggles for wider social justice. As such, it will appeal to scholars of education and sociology with interests in pedagogy, social movements and activism.

In the formerly colonial world, the discourse of development has established an almost unquestioned intellectual and political dominance. Adult educators, their purposes and their programmes, are inevitably deeply shaped by this fact. Frank Youngman believes that adult educators need to have an understanding of the various different theories of development, and how different development strategies and biases impact on their own work. The purpose of his book is to provide a theory of applied political economy to explain the interface between society and adult education in developing countries. The author's own approach is broadly influenced by the Marxist tradition, but one that seeks to transcend many of the limitations and rigidities often prevalent in the past. He introduces adult educators to the main competing theories of development - the modernisation, dependency, neo-liberal and various alternative approaches. He then demonstrates the power of his analytical tools by examining a variety of specific issues affecting adult education. These include the impact of foreign aid, social inequalities (notably class, gender and ethnic inequalities), and the relationship between state and civil society in peripheral capitalist societies. The book draws on a wealth of empirical information and case studies from various parts of the world, but with particular attention to the country which the author knows best, Botswana. Its signal contribution is its elaboration of a theory of the political economy of adult education in the context of development and its demonstration of the applicability of this theoretical framework, including its usefulness in generating appropriate research agendas.

Critical Theorist Carlos Alberto Torres offers a political sociology of adult learning and education, based on Critical Social Theory and the always inspiring work of Paulo Freire. Empirically grounded and theoretically sophisticated, this new book follows the footsteps of his classic book published in the early nineties The Politics of Nonformal Education in Latin America. Torres book offers comparative and international sociological analyses of adult learning and education, an area in which there is an obsession with ‘practice’ and an aversion to theory, with some notable and laudable exceptions, but which has the potential to provide avenues for social justice education in ways that no other systems and policies can. This book revitalizes social theory in education, and provides ample evidence of the power of adult learning and education, examining a variety of policy documents connected with the various adult education congresses promoted by the UNESCO, which are thoroughly scrutinized for what they bring to or omit from the policy agenda. In the context of new developments in adult learning and education, particularly the impact of multiple globalizations, neoliberalism, and the new role of international organizations in reconceptualizing lifelong learning, new evidence-based research, new narratives, and the vibrancy of social movements striving for a new and possible world, it is clear that new theoretical designs were needed making this is a must-read book.

In this volume the author analyzes the relationships of concepts such as socialization and political education, explains those aspects of the theory and practice of democracy that are especially relevant for schools, and suggests ways in which teachers can better provide for the political education of their students.

Adult education has frequently assumed a political role in society and also has itself been regarded as a social movement. This book, however, is the first systematic attempt to analyse it from the perspective of political theory. The author locates the education of adults within current political theory - something which has become even more relevant since the Conservative government of the UK has adopted an interventionist approach to education. Peter Jarvis starts from a historical perspective, examining the relationship between adult education and civil society, and exploring theories of the state. He discusses the concept of democracy and shows that there are a variety of different forms with which the education of adults might be related. The idea of citizenship is also examined, and it is suggested that the education of adults might be regarded as a citizenship right which is being lost to all citizens as a result of current government policies. Peter Jarvis also looks at the relationship between liberal adult education and a civilised society, suggesting that its provision is one of the symbols that a society is moving on the long journey towards creating a civilised society. The final chapter illustrates the existence of utopian thought in radical adult education.

Relates adult and continuing education to a discussion of political and policy-making theory, and to the practice of educational policy-making since the war.

Provides a theory of applied political economy to explain the interface between society and adult education in developing countries. This book analyzes specific issues which affect adult education: the impact of foreign aid; gender and ethnic inequalities; and the relationship between state and civil society in peripheral capitalist societies.