Political education for adults as a means of resocialisation

Abstract

An evaluation of the theories about political education raises a number of questions. Could the movements engaged in this type of education mount a challenge to the prevailing system in the socio-political scenario or simply seek spaces of peaceful co-existence with the mainstream culture? This essay attempts to address this question by subjecting the theories of political socialization to a critical analysis of the social movements that are engaged in the practice of this type of education. The argument being presented is that the resocialisation of adults is possible through a movement that tries to re-orient adult political beliefs and attitudes. Within such a perspective adult political education is viewed in terms of deliberate and planned attempts to provide regular and sequenced progammes explicitly aimed at orienting or re-orienting the political beliefs and images which are held by individuals.