Global civil society and adult education for social change : a postcolonial perspective

摘要: Adult education plays an important role in global economic development and features prominently debates about changing requirements of post-industrial knowledge societies. This dominant technical-instrumental understanding adult public discourse masks the transformative function certain types - that is, possibilities to improve social justice issues such as workers’ rights, human civic participation governance socially just development. Given increasing stratification between within North South era, potential effect change has been rediscovered by organisations civil society, namely international non-governmental (INGOs). The broad objective this research was carry out in-depth qualitative case study a rights advocacy program provided Northern INGO predominantly operating South. The analyses how participants see terms its contribute progressive their home communities across Asia-Pacific region. following questions guided study: 1. To what extent does challenge existing systems domination marginalisation? 2. How did completion affect participants’ views abilities facilitate action communities? Data sources for were interviews with 19 staff questionnaires from 28 variety countries Asia-pacific region. The gap literature addressed is empirical sidelines analysis globalisation, education, nexus perspective takes marginalised other seriously, tending instead mirror material subjugation discursive practices. Social highly context-specific strategies advance it depend on way which people understand reality are affected adverse conditions. present employed postcolonial framework holistic approach analysing inclusive material, political, conditions interplay these local level. The convincingly exemplified example counter-hegemonic resistance against neoliberal discourse. It achieved enabling participants, based Freirian pedagogical principles, locate problem frame address mutually constitutive developments discourses describe them. underpinning skills effective created opportunities build networks various stakeholders. At minimum, most advocates accord supporting enhancing ability examine causes injustices ways these. Some even regarded fundamental issues. Almost all reported increased skill-set enabled them become more advocates.