Freedom of information and life-long learning of a general scope are the elements supporting a living representative democracy, active citizenship, a cultural cohesion and personal autonomy.

In the Nordic countries the folk high school movement, the liberal adult education and the voluntary associations have been the driving forces of active citizenship and personal development in the civic society.

But the area of liberal education and voluntary associations experience financial reductions and new demands of promoting employability. In the past few years the public support to essential Nordic and Danish institutions that promotes liberal education has been removed, such as the Nordic Folk Academy in Goteborg, the Centre of liberal education and adult education in Copenhagen, The international Academy for education and democracy, The research centre in Ollerup, and latest IFO in Gerlev 

The background is a shift of paradigm from a humanistic agenda with focus on personal fulfilment, democracy and human formation to a new instrumental agenda with focus on employability, global economy and development of competences for the working life.

This new paradigm has without much critic from the educational and cultural sector gain under-standing by the decision makers, and it is now put into practise. The new educational and cultural policies may promote docile and adaptable employees for the business community, but not personal autonomy and active citizenship for the benefit of the civic and public life.

But our Nordic welfare model with a strong civic society and a living representative democracy deserves more. We need a different view on lifelong learning that maintains the humanistic foundation and the critical perspective of personal formation. Lifelong learning implies learning for life too. Globalization implies global citizenship as well. 

There is a need for new forms of cooperation between the liberal adult education, the NGO-work and the voluntary cultural associations, both in national and international contexts. There is a need for new initiatives and networks in the civic society that promotes enlightenment and active citizenship.