It has long been acknowledged that adult and lifelong educators have exercised little influence over national education policies. This article addresses the issue, with particular reference to the research elements of policy advocacy. Researchers and policy-makers are distinguished and related as communities of practice and intellectual categories…

"Education" is being displaced by "learning" and it is becoming increasingly difficult to isolate educational policy from socioeconomic policy. Analysis of progressive social democratic policies shows that lifelong learning may be another name for expansion of education and training systems. (SK)

An alternative perspective on lifelong learning locates it in culture, civil society, and leisure/consumption lifestyles. Distinctions between education and learning and markets and quasi-markets are used to explore policy models. The relationship to welfare reform policies is discussed. (Author/SK)

Attempts to locate adult education in the tradition of social policy analysis which has long been concerned with social welfare and, more recently, with schooling. Considers the idea of social control as it has figured in the context of social welfare policy and schooling. (JOW)