Social movements – sites of radical adult education

Sonja Kump

Summary:   This paper deals with concepts and praxis of radical adult education in social movements from their origin to today. Education within social movements provides a resource and impulse for individuals and collectives to take control over their conditions of life and act collectively for a better, more social and equitable society. Radical adult education is derived from the supposition that all educational interventions are political by nature. It recognizes that there is a strong connection between knowledge, culture, and power. Everyday experience in such education is an important learning source, but such experience should be critically »testified« and reinforced in dialogic debates, studies and activity. This paper presents current debates concerning radical education in so-called old, new, and newest social movements. It concludes with a reflection on the potential of radical education in the contemporary context of social movements’ alliances.