Social Movements and the Education of Desire

Movements move people. They provide the impetus, energy and resources which mobilise people for collective action. Movements are oppositional-progressive ones reflect aspirations which are antithetical to the marketised culture of 'competitive individualism' in which personal fulfilment is supposedly gained and gauged by the commodities we consume. It is in this process of moving people to act against the status quo that the educative potential of social movements lies. It will be useful therefore to explore how adult education and community work can contribute to this process of popular education. If we are interested in progressive social change we cannot ignore them. At the same time it is necessary to recognise the difficulties working with social movements may pose; in addressing this concern we may be able to maximise the possibilities in our work context.