This booklet is about the relationship between vocational and community education. Part Two of the booklet deals specifically with education - it looks at how vocational and community education are generally understood and then offers some alternative ideas, understandings and examples of what we think they are and could be. But we cannot discuss education until we discuss the context in which education is located. Therefore Part One of this booklet ‘sets the scene’ and is about the current context - it looks at the current global economic system and also at ‘work’ under capitalism. It questions many commonly held beliefs and ideas and contrasts these with other ideas and concepts (including some from the past).