During the course of the last quarter of the 20th century, we witnessed a dramatic reversal in the fortunes of young people. From being a key beneficiary of the postwar political commitment to inclusion and concession, youth became reconstituted as a much more costly "state" to be in. This important new text takes as its basic premise the idea that age is a key site of division and explores the key elements of the process by which young people are integrated into society. Both detailed and wide-ranging in its analysis, it provides an accessible introduction to the major issues involved in the study of youth.