Vis. Ass. Prof. Harry Hendrick, Univ. of Southern Denmark)
NaTo: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 46, 18 Uhr (Vortrag in englischer Sprache)
There is widespread concern among British Non Goverment Organizations working with young people that there exists within the government and among the general public a mood of 'zero tolerance' towards children and adolescents that has led to their being demonised. This lecture asks why such a mood has evolved and what it signifies. The suggestion is that the demonisation of young people is a feature of particular stresses and strains associated with advanced capitalism, not only the consequences of its increasingly globalised labour market, but also those of ontological insecurity and social anxiety. Through a comparison with what is claimed to be relatively 'optimistic' attitudes towards young people during the 'first' crisis of modernity c. 1890-1914, it is argued that our contemporary malaise is marked by intolerance, suspicion, and pessimism.