THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE UNIVERSITY'S ROLE IN SOCIAL CHANGE FROM THE POLITICAL VIEWPOINT. BY EXAMINING OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AS IT RELATED TO UNIVERSITY INVOLVEMENT, HE INDICATES THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF SUCH INVOLVEMENT AND SHOWS THE KIND OF INVOLVEMENT THAT IS POLITICALLY POSSIBLE. HE PINPOINTS THE DIFFICULTIES CIVIC ADMINISTRATORS AND UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL HAVE IN WORKING TOGETHER AS PROBLEMS OF APPROACH. UNIVERSITIES TEND TO DEFINE PROBLEMS WITHIN THEIR MORE GENERAL CONTEXT AND TO ESPOUSE LONG-RANGE PLANNING, WHILE OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM IS PRIMARILY CONDUCIVE TO SMALL INCREMENTAL CHANGE AND SHORT-RANGE PLANNING. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THIS POLITICAL SITUATION EXISTS BECAUSE OF (1) OUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF CHANGE, (2) OUR IDEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS BASED IN GOOD PART ON LAISSEZ FAIRE, (3) OUR POWER STRUCTURE, WHICH IS PLURALISTIC, AND (4) OUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM IN SOME WAYS AGREES WITH THE UNIVERSITY, IT ALSO PRODUCES MANY FRUSTRATIONS. THESE FRUSTRATIONS ARE AN INEVITABLE PART OF THE SYSTEM, UNIVERSITY INVOLVEMENT IS NONETHELESS NECESSARY AND MUST CONTINUE. THE COMPLETE DOCUMENT, "POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF ADULT EDUCATION, THE UNIVERSITY IN URBAN SOCIETY," IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LIBERAL EDUCATION OF ADULTS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY, 138 MOUNTFORT ST., BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS 02146, FOR $1.25. (EB)