Children and the State

By: Jane Tunstill

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Synopsis: In the consciousness of politicians, professionals and the public, children and young people loom increasingly large as a challenge to be faced. This problematic image includes not only the inevitable and traditional difficulties faced by the young in negotiating a role in society, but also an increasing tendency for children to be problematized, even vilified, and for state intervention in their lives to reflect this trend. Indeed, the increasing scale and scope of central and local government policy responses to the age group can sometimes result, both intentionally and unintentionally, in additional challenges for children to overcome. The text starts with the assumption that we cannot assume that state intervention in the lives of young people will always lead to positive outcomes. The contributors explore the key policy areas such as health, education and the youth justice system, within the broader social and economic context, including race and culture, the economy and European integration.