Against Youth Violence: A Social Harm Perspective

Description

Youth violence dominates headlines and politicians' attention and many organisations invest considerable resources in an attempt to reduce it. This book examines how inequality and social harms drive such violence and highlights key future goals for policymakers, researchers and practitioners. For many children and young people, Britain is a harmful society in which to grow up. This book contextualises the violence that occurs between a small number of young people within a wider perspective on social harm. Aimed at academics, youth workers and policymakers, the book presents a new way to make sense of this pressing social problem. The authors also propose measures to substantially improve the lives of Britain's young people - in areas ranging from the early years, to youth services and the criminal justice system.

Luke Billingham is a youth and community worker at Hackney Quest and Research Associate at The Open University. Keir Irwin-Rogers is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at The Open University.

"This fascinating book disrupts what we know or think about youth violence. A call to arms to recognize the potential of young people and the social harms they suffer in our current political climate." Deborah Jump, Manchester Metropolitan University "The environment we expect children and young people to thrive in is often brutal. This plea for us all to ensure they truly matter is long overdue. If you read only one book about these complex issues, make it this one. I applaud it." Sherry Peck, Chief Executive, Safer London "The central message of this thoughtful book is that if we stop harming young people, they will be less likely to harm each other. Yet our policies continue to deprive and demean children and youth. No one should be surprised at the result." Elliott Currie, University of California, Irvine