associationalism

A political project. It is argued that if we follow a simple idea there will be considerable gains. This  is that, ‘human welfare and liberty are both best served when as many of the affairs of a society as possible are managed by voluntary and democratically self-governing associations’ (Hirst 1993: 112).

Sometimes known as ‘associationalism’, this notion ‘gives priority to freedom in its scale of values, but it contends that such freedom can only be pursued effectively if individuals join with their fellows’ (Hirst 1993: 112).

Early adult education activists such as James Hole were strong associationalists, but it was through the work of Mary Parker Follett that it reached a significant number of social and educational activists

Follett's work deeply influenced a number of the pioneers of educational settlements and community centres in the UK.

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