Social movements and lifelong learning – learning for change or learning for democracy?

The central objective of this editorial is to emphasise that social movements are indispensable spaces for lifelong learning. Ignoring their educational potential in discussions about contemporary or historical learning places and arrangements would be a significant oversight (Gouthro, 2022). We argue that they provide a unique environment where individuals learn how to live civically in a society – that is, how to engage with and contribute to a democratic society, both within the system and by working to improve it. Social movements foster a type of learning that is crucial for democracy: they teach participants how to act, think together and enact change in a democratic manner. These movements can also catalyse the institutionalisation of learning through civic education, ensuring that the lessons learned from democratic struggles become integral to ‘civic life’ (Levine, 2022).