Everyone is talking about civil society. Perhaps it's the election, and the shock of seeing more voters at the polling booths than anyone had expected. Now David Cameron's idea of a "big society" is being translated into some early policy measures. Does today's debate have anything to do with adult learning? The author believes that the debate over civil society represents the greatest opportunity for adult educators to stand tall in the public sphere. He suggests that if the government is serious about the big society, and charities and voluntary groups are able and willing to move onto new ground, then adult learning will be needed to build capabilities, helping ensure that the big society is open to all. He also argues that if the big society is to embrace all the citizens, and not only the most articulate and confident and best-networked, then there is a challenging and exciting agenda for adult learning.