Catalogue


Youth in a suspect society : democracy or disposability? /
Henry A. Giroux.
imprint
New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
description
xv, 237 p.
ISBN
0230613292, 9780230613294
format(s)
Book
Holdings
Subjects
subject
More Details
author
title
imprint
New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
isbn
0230613292
9780230613294
contents note
Introduction: Expendable futures : youth and democracy at risk -- Born to consume : youth and the pedagogy of commodification -- Locked up : education and the youth crime complex -- Locked out : youth and academic unfreedom -- In the shadow of the gilded age : biopolitics in the age of disposability.
catalogue key
6937951
 
Includes bibliographical references and index.
A Look Inside
About the Author
Author Affiliation
Henry A. Giroux holds the Global TV Network Chair Professorship at McMaster University. His most recent books include: Take Back Higher Education (Palgrave, co-authored with Susan Giroux, 2004); The Giroux Reader (2004); The University in Chains (2007); and Against the Terror of Neoliberalism (2008)
Full Text Reviews
Appeared in Choice on 2010-07-01:
Giroux (McMaster Univ.) employs postmodern theory to chart the declining fortunes of youth. Following Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben, and Zygmunt Bauman, the author indicts neoliberalism, ascendant during the presidency of George W. Bush, for establishing a regime of biopolitics that reduces youth as well as other marginal populations to a disposable status. The diminishing role of government, complemented by corporate expansion with respect to both consumerism and militarism, savages democracy and foreshadows the politics of death. Giroux states that leftist dissent, student opposition, and pedagogy oriented toward social solidarity are antidotes. Tendentious theory and the Obama presidency subvert the author's otherwise astute critique. Related books include Paul Tough's Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America (2009) and David Stoesz's Quixote's Ghost: The Right, the Liberati, and the Future of Social Policy (2005). Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, faculty. D. Stoesz Virginia Commonwealth University
Reviews
Review Quotes
"Giroux continues to write eloquently about the damage that is being done to our children and our societies under the changing regimes of capitalism and power. With an astute pedagogical perspective, and the unique ability to translate the densest theoretical concepts into incisive (or perceptive) cultural analyses, this book forces us to think beyond the assumptions that too often define the political common sense."--Lawrence Grossberg, Director of the University Program in Cultural Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"Nobody writing on significant social issues matches Giroux's analysis and eloquent plea on behalf of youth. This book is more than a study of a social group. In the context of addressing how our country treats its young, Giroux has provided us with a scorching critique of the conventional claim that we are a civilized and democratic society. At the same time, it is a clarion call to citizens to reverse policies and practices that endanger their future by denying youth the bright sunlight of freedom."--Stanley Aronowitz, Author ofAgainst Schooling: For an Education that Matters"There is great urgency in Giroux's powerful new book. Yet his arguments are made with careful documentation and analysis. The result throughout is an unrelenting refusal to back away from the alarming fact that the combined demonization of youth and of education now threaten the essential ability of a society to develop critical thinking or the capacity to create an imaginary of the future. Giroux has written an essential book laying out the inheritance of the 20th Century as well as the challenges for the 21st."--Carol Becker, Professor of the Arts and Dean of the School of the Arts, Columbia University; Author ofThinking in Place: Art, Action, and Cultural Production "Giroux's remains the singular critical voice about the closing off of democratic political, social, and economic prospects for non-privileged youth in America. InYouth in a Suspect Society, Giroux turns the tables, placing pressure where it belongs, on the delimiting social conditions that turn kids into 'problems' rather than on 'problem kids.' This, importantly, is a book about the renewal of democracy as much for the generation produced by our generation as for our own."--David Theo Goldberg, Director, Humanities Research Institute, and Professor of Comparative Literature and Criminology, Law and Society, University of California-Irvine"In this book, Giroux continues his valuable explorations of the diverse ways in which young people are badly positioned in contemporary U.S. society. Giroux documents a number of scandalous treatments of youth by our schools, media, police, state, and corporations and brings to light social injustices that must be addressed and ameliorated. Well-researched, written, and highly informative, this is a book that all concerned with the prospects and future of our youth should read and discuss."--Douglas Kellner, Author ofGuys and Guns Amok: Domestic Terrorism and School Shootings from the Oklahoma City Bombings to the Virginia Tech Massacre
"Henry Giroux is one of the most important public servants the last 100 years have produced.Youth in a Suspect Societyis an unnerving prophetic call to action. Through tedious research and meditation, Giroux has provided a blueprint that all concerned can use in restoring the faith Youth once had in societyfaith planted in the soils of non-privatized, non-corporatized values. I recommend it with inestimable gratitude to Dr. Giroux for his moral vigor and matchless vitality." Tolu Olorunda,The Black Commentator "Giroux continues to write eloquently about the damage that is being done to our children and our societies under the changing regimes of capitalism and power. With an astute pedagogical perspective, and the unique ability to translate the densest theoretical concepts into incisive (or perceptive) cultural analyses, this book forces us to think beyond the assumptions that too often define the political common sense." Lawrence Grossberg, Director of the University Program in Cultural Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Nobody writing on significant social issues matches Giroux's analysis and eloquent plea on behalf of youth. This book is more than a study of a social group. In the context of addressing how our country treats its young, Giroux has provided us with a scorching critique of the conventional claim that we are a civilized and democratic society. At the same time, it is a clarion call to citizens to reverse policies and practices that endanger their future by denying youth the bright sunlight of freedom." Stanley Aronowitz, Author ofAgainst Schooling: For an Education that Matters"There is great urgency in Giroux's powerful new book. Yet his arguments are made with careful documentation and analysis. The result throughout is an unrelenting refusal to back away from the alarming fact that the combined demonization of youth and of education now threaten the essential ability of a society to develop critical thinking or the capacity to create an imaginary of the future. Giroux has written an essential book laying out the inheritance of the 20th Century as well as the challenges for the 21st." Carol Becker, Professor of the Arts and Dean of the School of the Arts, Columbia University; Author ofThinking in Place: Art, Action, and Cultural Production "Giroux's remains the singular critical voice about the closing off of democratic political, social, and economic prospects for non-privileged youth in America. InYouth in a Suspect Society, Giroux turns the tables, placing pressure where it belongs, on the delimiting social conditions that turn kids into 'problems' rather than on 'problem kids.' This, importantly, is a book about the renewal of democracy as much for the generation produced by our generation as for our own." David Theo Goldberg, Director, Humanities Research Institute, and Professor of Comparative Literature and Criminology, Law and Society, University of California-Irvine"In this book, Giroux continues his valuable explorations of the diverse ways in which young people are badly positioned in contemporary U.S. society. Giroux documents a number of scandalous treatments of youth by our schools, media, police, state, and corporations and brings to light social injustices that must be addressed and ameliorated. Well-researched, written, and highly informative, this is a book that all concerned with the prospects and future of our youth should read and discuss." Douglas Kellner, Author ofGuys and Guns Amok: Domestic Terrorism and School Shootings from the Oklahoma City Bombings to the Virg
"Henry Giroux is one of the most important public servants the last 100 years have produced. Youth in a Suspect Society is an unnerving prophetic call to action. Through tedious research and meditation, Giroux has provided a blueprint that all concerned can use in restoring the faith Youth once had in societyfaith planted in the soils of non-privatized, non-corporatized values. I recommend it with inestimable gratitude to Dr. Giroux for his moral vigor and matchless vitality." Tolu Olorunda, The Black Commentator "Giroux continues to write eloquently about the damage that is being done to our children and our societies under the changing regimes of capitalism and power. With an astute pedagogical perspective, and the unique ability to translate the densest theoretical concepts into incisive (or perceptive) cultural analyses, this book forces us to think beyond the assumptions that too often define the political common sense." Lawrence Grossberg, Director of the University Program in Cultural Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Nobody writing on significant social issues matches Giroux's analysis and eloquent plea on behalf of youth. This book is more than a study of a social group. In the context of addressing how our country treats its young, Giroux has provided us with a scorching critique of the conventional claim that we are a civilized and democratic society. At the same time, it is a clarion call to citizens to reverse policies and practices that endanger their future by denying youth the bright sunlight of freedom." Stanley Aronowitz, Author of Against Schooling: For an Education that Matters "There is great urgency in Giroux's powerful new book. Yet his arguments are made with careful documentation and analysis. The result throughout is an unrelenting refusal to back away from the alarming fact that the combined demonization of youth and of education now threaten the essential ability of a society to develop critical thinking or the capacity to create an imaginary of the future. Giroux has written an essential book laying out the inheritance of the 20th Century as well as the challenges for the 21st." Carol Becker, Professor of the Arts and Dean of the School of the Arts, Columbia University; Author of Thinking in Place: Art, Action, and Cultural Production "Giroux's remains the singular critical voice about the closing off of democratic political, social, and economic prospects for non-privileged youth in America. In Youth in a Suspect Society , Giroux turns the tables, placing pressure where it belongs, on the delimiting social conditions that turn kids into 'problems' rather than on 'problem kids.' This, importantly, is a book about the renewal of democracy as much for the generation produced by our generation as for our own." David Theo Goldberg, Director, Humanities Research Institute, and Professor of Comparative Literature and Criminology, Law and Society, University of California-Irvine "In this book, Giroux continues his valuable explorations of the diverse ways in which young people are badly positioned in contemporary U.S. society. Giroux documents a number of scandalous treatments of youth by our schools, media, police, state, and corporations and brings to light social injustices that must be addressed and ameliorated. Well-researched, written, and highly informative, this is a book that all concerned with the prospects and future of our youth should read and discuss." Douglas Kellner, Author of Guys and Guns Amok: Domestic Terrorism and School Shootings from the Oklahoma City Bombings to the Virginia Tech Massacre
This item was reviewed in:
Choice, July 2010
To find out how to look for other reviews, please see our guides to finding book reviews in the Sciences or Social Sciences and Humanities.
Summaries
Bowker Data Service Summary
Through the lens of education reform & education politics, this book situates young people within theoretical & political considerations that offer up a new 'analytic of youth', one that posits not only the emergence of a new way to talk about youth but also a new language for understanding & critically engaging politics.
Description for Bookstore
Giroux explores the current conditions of youth and their educational experiences within the emerging discourses of bio-power and disposability, showing how these forces work against young people
Description for Bookstore
Through the lens of education reform and current education politics, this book situates young people within theoretical and political considerations that offer up a new "analytic of youth", one that posits not only the emergence of a new way to talk about youth but also a new language for understanding and critically engaging the politics that frame their lives.
Long Description
Through the lens of education reform and current education politics, this book attempts to situate young people within a number of theoretical and political considerations that offer up a new 'œanalytic of youth', one that posits not only the emergence of a new way to talk about youth but also a new language for understanding and critically engaging the politics that increasingly frames every aspect of their lives. Giroux explores the current conditions of youth and their educational experiences within the emerging discourses of bio-power and disposability, while relating how these forces work against young people. In doing so, he develops a notion of disposability, drawing upon the work of theorists such as Zygmunt Bauman, Judith Butler, Agamben, Foucault, and others as a theoretical foundation for addressing the emergence of a rigid market fundamentalism. This is blatantly celebrated as a new Gilded Age, shaping public culture in which young people are increasingly portrayed as dangerous and hence no longer appear to be a referent for a democratic future. Giroux also looks at the increasing militarization and commercialization of the public sphere and develop the implications this has for how American society takes up the issue of youth and how our educational systems can transform the position of youth from one of disposability to one of empowerment. A recent article by Giroux: http://www.counterpunch.org/giroux02062009.html
Long Description
Through the lens of education reform and current education politics, this book attempts to situate young people within a number of theoretical and political considerations that offer up a new 'analytic of youth', one that posits not only the emergence of a new way to talk about youth but also a new language for understanding and critically engaging the politics that increasingly frames every aspect of their lives. Giroux explores the current conditions of youth and their educational experiences within the emerging discourses of bio-power and disposability, while relating how these forces work against young people. In doing so, he develops a notion of disposability, drawing upon the work of theorists such as Zygmunt Bauman, Judith Butler, Agamben, Foucault, and others as a theoretical foundation for addressing the emergence of a rigid market fundamentalism. This is blatantly celebrated as a new Gilded Age, shaping public culture in which young people are increasingly portrayed as dangerous and hence no longer appear to be a referent for a democratic future. Giroux also looks at the increasing militarization and commercialization of the public sphere and develop the implications this has for how American society takes up the issue of youth and how our educational systems can transform the position of youth from one of disposability to one of empowerment. A recent article by Giroux: http://www.counterpunch.org/giroux02062009.html
Main Description
This book argues that with the rise of market fundamentalism and the ensuing economic and financial crisis, youth are facing a crisis unlike that of any other generation. With the collapse of the welfare state, youth are no longer seen as a social investment but as troubling and, in some cases, disposable, especially poor minority youth. Caught between the discourses of consumerism and a powerful crime-control-complex, young people are increasingly either viewed as commodities or are subjected to the dictates of an ever expanding criminal justice system. Constructing a new analytic of youth, Giroux explores the current conditions of young people and their everyday experiences within this emerging crime complex, a politics of disposability, and the ever present market-driven forces of commercialization and commodification. Drawing upon the work of theorists such as Zygmunt Bauman, Judith Butler, Agamben, Foucault, and others as a theoretical foundation for addressing the growth of a rigid market fundamentalism and a punishing state, Giroux explores both the increasing militarization and commercialization of schools and other public spheres, and what can happen to a society in which young people are increasingly portrayed as dangerous and, hence, no longer appear to be a referent for a democratic future. But Giroux does more than examine the implications this new war on youth has for American society, he also analyses the role that educators, parents, intellectuals, and others can play in both challenging the plight of young people deepening and extending the promise of a better future and a sustainable and viable democracy. http://www.henryagiroux.com/
Main Description
This book argues that with the rise of market fundamentalism and the ensuing economic and financial crisis, youth are facing a crisis unlike that of any other generation. With the collapse of the welfare state, youth are no longer seen as a social investment but as troubling and, in some cases, disposable, especially poor minority youth. Caught between the discourses of consumerism and a powerful crime-control-complex, young people are increasingly either viewed as commodities or are subjected to the dictates of an ever expanding criminal justice system.Constructing a new analytic of youth, Giroux explores the current conditions of young people and their everyday experiences within this emerging crime complex, a politics of disposability, and the ever present market-driven forces of commercialization and commodification. Drawing upon the work of theorists such as Zygmunt Bauman, Judith Butler, Agamben, Foucault, and others as a theoretical foundation for addressing the growth of a rigid market fundamentalism and a punishing state, Giroux explores both the increasing militarization and commercialization of schools and other public spheres, and what can happen to a society in which young people are increasingly portrayed as dangerous and, hence, no longer appear to be a referent for a democratic future. But Giroux does more then examine, the implications this new war on youth has for American society, he also analyses the role that educators, parents, intellectuals, and others can play in both challenging the plight of young people deepening and extending the promise of a better future and a sustainable and viable democracy.A recent article by Giroux: http://www.counterpunch.org/giroux02062009.html
Main Description
Through the lens of education reform and current education politics, this book attempts to situate young people within a number of theoretical and political considerations that offer up a new "analytic of youth", one that posits not only the emergence of a new way to talk about youth but also a new language for understanding and critically engaging the politics that increasingly frames every aspect of their lives. Giroux explores the current conditions of youth and their educational experiences within the emerging discourses of bio-power and disposability, while relating how these forces work against young people. In doing so, he develops a notion of disposability, drawing upon the work of theorists such as Zygmunt Bauman, Judith Butler, Agamben, Foucault, and others as a theoretical foundation for addressing the emergence of a rigid market fundamentalism. This is blatantly celebrated as a new Gilded Age, shaping public culture in which young people are increasingly portrayed as dangerous and hence no longer appear to be a referent for a democratic future. Giroux also looks at the increasing militarization and commercialization of the public sphere and develop the implications this has for how American society takes up the issue of youth and how our educational systems can transform the position of youth from one of disposability to one of empowerment.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgmentsp. ix
Introduction Expendable Futures: Youth and Democracy at Riskp. 1
Born to Consume: Youth and the Pedagogy of Commodificationp. 27
Locked Up: Education and the Youth Crime Complexp. 69
Locked Out: Youth and Academic Unfreedomp. 109
In the Shadow of the Gilded Age: Biopolitics in the Age of Disposabilityp. 145
Notesp. 189
Indexp. 231
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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