Resisting Mainstream Lifelong Learning. The Contributions of Popular Education and Participatory Research

Popular education as a way to organise the process of learning and teaching has a long tradition around the world. Usually, it is taken for granted that popular education was born in Latin America in the 196os, with the primary representative of it being Paulo Reglus Neves Freire. In this chapter, I will explore the intellectual context that shapes the building of a different education. On the one hand, the theories, and practices of deschooling society. On the other, the building of a 'popular' knowledge through participatory research. I will also refer, very briefly, to methodologies, considering the dialogue as their central element. Finally, the chapter looks at two experiences that can be considered as exemplary of popular education.