The global spread of the nordic folk high school idea

Abstract

Educational institutions that refer to Nordic folk high schools as role models exist across the world. In this chapter, the dissemination of ideas and institutions associated with the folk high schools is analyzed. Three ideal-typical dissemination patterns are identified: (1) migration (Nordic emigrants who have founded schools), (2) inspiration (non-Nordic actors who have ‘discovered’ the folk high school idea), and (3) dissemination through persuasion (the dissemination of folk high school ideas by Nordic actors). Finally, the chapter argues that in studying the global dissemination of adult education ideas and institutions, it is crucial to emphasize the contingency of the local translation processes related to the spread of ideas, as well as the presence of global power structures and discourses with origins in the colonial era.