Civil Society’s Education

Reflections on the Informal Roots of Learning

Professor Christopher Winch author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Publishing:23rd Jul '26

£28.99

This title is due to be published on 23rd July, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

Civil Society’s Education cover

This book examines the relationship between the educational activities of Civil Society and those of the State via three case studies in: vocational education, political education and educational markets.

This book examines the relationship between the educational activities of civil society and those of the state via three case studies in vocational education, political education, and educational markets. Winch argues that the narrower educational activities of the state cannot be understood independently of those that take place in civil society which consists of institutions such as families, churches, businesses, trade unions, charities and political associations. Drawing on arguments and ideas in the work of Hume, Wittgenstein, Rhees, Vico, Hegel and Gramsci and building on the work of authors such as Bakhurst, Roedl and Hamlyn, the book breaks new ground in offering a philosophical account of civil society and the place of education within it. It is relevant to a range of societies, including those without a state or where the state has little influence, located in geographically and temporally diverse contexts.

A long-overdue educational-philosophical task has been the methodical and thorough investigation of how State-regulated and formal types of education are interconnected with Civil Society educational activities. Christopher Winch’s new book fulfils this important task most informatively and insightfully, indeed, valuably. -- Marianna Papastephanou, Professor of Philosophy of Education, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Civil Society: Its Educational Importance insightfully explores how non-state institutions underpin education. A critical read for understanding the partnership between Civil Society and the State in shaping educational systems and their necessary impact on society. Thought-provoking and essential. -- Ecem Karlidag-Dennis, Senior Researcher in Social Innovation & Impact, University of Northampton, UK
In what may just be the best book on civil society since Hegel’s Philosophy of Right, Christopher Winch explores the relationship between the educational activities of civil society and the State, demonstrating that the latter cannot be understood independently of the former. Anybody interested in the philosophy of education and socio-politics would benefit greatly from reading it. -- Constantine Sandis, University of Hertfordshire, UK

ISBN: 9781350513402

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

280 pages