Global, regional and local influences on adult literacy policy in England.

This paper explores the relationship between global, regional and local influences on adult literacy policy and practice in the UK through a discourse analysis of policy-related texts. The analysis is framed by theoretical perspectives from literacy studies and socio-material theory. The paper identifies a number of specific features in the UK literacy policy environment that have mediated the influence of transnational agencies such as UNESCO, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Union. It argues for the importance of understanding adult literacy policy as part of a wider constellation of discourses and governance practices and shows how textual representations of literacy and literacy learners are powerful constituents of the policy field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]