ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 outlined a conceptualization of youth as a series of “transitions” from childhood to adulthood. The last two chapters further described the ways in which recent social and economic changes have restructured the status of “youth” in contemporary society and produced “extended” and “fractured” youth transitions. In describing these, and the processes through which the set of transitions seems to interrelate, particular attention has been drawn to the ways in which the welfares of different groups of young people have been affected. For some groups, “welfare” support can be argued to have declined over the past two decades and they have become significantly structurally disadvantaged in successfully making the transition to “adulthood” (Williamson 1993). In this sense, they have serious problems in being part of, and participating in, the community as full adult members. In the terms to be developed in this chapter, they are thus excluded from “citizenship”. This chapter will examine what is meant by citizenship and how we can best conceptualize policies designed to enhance the citizenship of young people and ensure their welfare. It will also outline the changing policy context in which youth citizenship is to be understood. Chapter 5 considers the legal framework affecting young people’s rights.
