Description
Book SynopsisDepending on their dynamics, neighbourhoods may serve to contain or exacerbate youth violence. This book uses fascinating ethnographic and interview data to explore the disappearance of localized relationships in a South London housing estate. Through a comparative analysis of the experiences of different generations, James Alexander considers the impact of both wider socio-economic developments and the gradual move from neighbourly to professional support for young people. As well as evaluating the effectiveness of youth work programmes, he considers how the actions of neighbours and the decisions of policymakers influence how supported young people feel and, consequently, their vulnerability to criminal influences.
Table of Contents1. Introduction: Nearly Two Decades of Concern, yet Young People Are Still Dying 2. The Wider Historical and Social Context of ‘Black Criminality’ and Youth Violence 3. Exploring the Neighbourhood 4. Localised Disempowerment and the Development of Criminal Cultures 5. All Alone: Youth Isolation and the Embedding of a Violent Street Culture 6. Studio Time, Drill and the Criminalisation of Black Culture 7. Separated, Isolated, Unconnected 8. The New Normal: From Gang Violence to Individualised Danger and Child Criminal Exploitation 9. Learning from the Past, or More of the Same 10. Conclusion: Better Support but the Violence Remains
