ABSTRACT
Social scientists have had an interest in young people’s experiences, in the processes of social reproduction and transformation in youth and in the development of identities among young people for much of this century. During the 1960s, researchers tended to place a strong emphasis on the implications of young people’s actions: they were seen as developing distinctive youth cultures and questioning the values of their parents’ generation. The contrasts between British and continental European youth research traditions and theoretical perspectives highlight the need for a more intensive and systematic mutual interrogation of perspectives. Another major initiative arising from the Glasgow meeting was to decide to seek support for setting up a new international journal of youth research which would fill a perceived gap in the research literature. In the 21st century the economic, social and political landscape is likely to continue to change at an ever-increasing rate.
