Routledge Adult Education and the State: Towards a Politics of Adult Education

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.