The purpose of this paper is to investigate, analyse and interpret the educational ideals of the ABF (Workers Educational Association) as they are understood by five members within ABF. The paper also examines how the educational ideals are represented in the national guidelines and statues of the ABF. The basic theoretical perspectives are intercultural theory and theories about Bildung and adult liberal education in a multi-cultural pedagogical environment presented by Bernt Gustavsson and Hans Lorentz respectively.

The empirical study consists of five semi-structured interviews and a text study of the official documents of the ABF. The data is interpreted with hermeneutic and semiotic tools. Organisational theory focusing on organizational culture has also contributed to the study.

The result of the study, when analysed in accordance to the methods, shows mainly four things. Firstly, the educational ideals within the contemporary ABF are the self-educational ideal and the civic educational ideal. Secondly, the analysis of contemporary society identifies social class as the main category of injustice with sex/gender ethnicity, disability, sexuality and age as subcategories. Thirdly, there is a lack of influence for people with a foreign background in the ABF. Fourthly, the ABF can make another world possible if the organisation consciously recruits people with a foreign background, is culturally aware when applying concepts, makes sure that the education emanates from every single participant, fights against stereotypes and builds networks.

One of the main conclusions I draw from this study is that popular education within the ABF can promote learning of Intercultural competence but there is an uncertainty about where the organisation will go towards a universalistic or a particularistic direction. There is also a lack of discrepancy between the written policy and the actual practice.