Hart, Stella (2009) The 'problem' with youth : young people, citizenship and the community. Citizenship Studies, Vol.13 (No.6). pp. 641-657. doi:10.1080/13621020903309656

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Abstract

Fears that we are experiencing a crisis in citizenship have been increasingly directed towards youth. Popular political and government rhetoric has frequently positioned young people as a threat to the healthy functioning of citizenship and democracy. Policies have been implemented to educate them and control their behaviour, particularly in their local communities, in an attempt to foster them as citizens deemed appropriate to join adult society. This article provides evidence to the contrary, of young people who wish to be part of their local communities and incorporated in the development of relationships of mutual trust and respect. In this context it is argued that the New Labour government's approach to renewing citizenship for the modem age is contributing to the alienation of young people from any sense of inclusive citizenship. It is put forward that if we are truly concerned with the engagement and empowerment of young people, what is needed is a broader definition of citizenship that enables them to participate as young citizens and respects their voices as an important part of a fair society. This, it is argued, would entail a departure from currently dominant conceptions of citizenship towards, instead, a cultural citizenship approach.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education ( -2013)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Citizenship -- Government policy -- Great Britain, Teenagers -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	Citizenship Studies
Publisher:	Routledge Journals, Taylor and Fancis Ltd
ISSN:	1362-1025
Official Date:	December 2009
Dates:	Date Event December 2009 Published
Volume:	Vol.13
Number:	No.6
Number of Pages:	17
Page Range:	pp. 641-657
DOI:	10.1080/13621020903309656
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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