Extract from the opening statement to the World Conference on Adult Education and Development. Focus is on the effects of political forces on the standard of living, especially in Third World countries, economic hardships faced by these countries, and the role of adult education in assuring that people are real participants in political and social…

The author provides a historical approach to understanding the political, economic, and cultural motives that shaped adult education's philosophy in Poland. Analysis of the pre and post "Solidarity" movement is provided to demonstrate the role of adult education in an ongoing process of learning democratic principles. (SSH)