Published in 1997, this text is built around themes agreed upon for a conference which aimed to set the agenda for youth research over the next decade. These themes are: the shaping of trajectories and biographies - individualization, agency, structure; vulnerable groups excluded and included youth, polarization, marginalization; social construction of identity - identity, culture, gender, ethnicity; political and social participation and citizenship. The book brings together the work of British and Continental researchers.

The English language version of proceedings of a bilateral UK/FRG conference held at Philipps Universitaet, Marburg. The theme of this conference was the examination of childhood and youth as life-stages in the context of contemporary social and cultural change, with an eye to future developments.

The English language version of proceedings of a bilateral UK/FRG conference held at Philipps Universitaet, Marburg. The theme of this conference was the examination of childhood and youth as life-stages in the context of contemporary social and cultural change, with an eye to future developments.

The contributions in this book adress the question of how to develop and foster democratic competences. This may take place via school curricula, resource materials and tea-ching/learning methods; in workplaces by means of formalised arrangements that encourage self-direction and through the informal processes engendered by expansive working environ-ments; and in personal and community life, including in the course of incidental learning in social networks, including as consumers. The studies and analyses are somewhat nonconformist in its thematic spread and its boundary-crossing between disciplines and perspectives that conventionally live separate lives.

Youth an Politics How do young people in Europe perceive politics? How do they engage in the political realm? Which groups of young people are actively involved? And which learning environments and opportunity structures can foster parti - cipation? Furthermore methodological problems of comparative participation research are discussed and the measurement instrument that was developed in this European research project, and is certainly useful for similar studies is presented. From the Contents: Reingard Spannring, The meaning of and relationship with politics Wolfgang Gaiser, Johann de Rijke, Forms of political participation among young Europeans Sabine Westphal and Natalia Waechter, Learning for participation: family, peers, schools, voluntary organisations Ruth Picker, Gender: a female way of participation/ young women and politics Gunther Ogris, The measurement instrument Johann de Rijke, Wolfgang Gaiser and Franziska Waechter, Stability of political behaviour Reingard Spannring, Gunther Ogris, Wolfgang Gaiser, Conclusion