Young People Re-Generating Politics in Times of Crises

This book provides insight into the diverse ways young people from around the world are regenerating politics in innovative and multifaceted ways. The authors, who include academics and activists, challenge claims that young people are apolitical, apathetic and living up to the ‘me generation’ stereotype. Contributions cover a rich body of case examples of traditional and new forms of youth politics in response to situated injustices and political and socio-economic crises. Significant and optimistic, the collection presents strong evidence from across the globe that these developments are not isolated incidences, but are in fact part of a systemic, large-scale transformation leading to a regeneration of the political landscape by young people. The book is aimed at students and scholars in the fields of politics, sociology, policy studies and youth and childhood studies.

“The editors, Sarah Pickard and Judith Bessant, have produced a remarkable volume of studies on young political activity. … It will be a useful resource for those working in the field of young people’s politics, but the power and scope of the book mean it would suit reading lists on social movements, direct action, the contemporary politics of democracy and so forth.” (Benjamin Bowman, Information, Communication & Society, Vol. 21, February, 2018)

Sarah Pickard is Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France. Her research on contemporary youth studies focuses on the interaction between youth policy and youth politics from sociological and political perspectives. She publishes primarily on the relationship between young people and political participation.Judith Bessant is Professor in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, Australia. She publishes in the areas of sociology, youth studies, politics, policy and history, and also works as an advisor to governments and to non-government organisations.