Midterm conference of the Research Network 'Youth & Generation' (RN30) of European Sociological Association ESA in co-operation with Estonian Youth Institute in Estonia.

The conference is entitled Youth and Youth Sociology in Europe. Since the 1980s Europe has gone through tremendous social, ideological, political and cultural changes. The collapse of socialism and the dominance of neoliberal ideology in political discourse and practice has changed the political scenery. Neoliberal policies of governments of several European countries has worsened the living conditions of young people and lead to youth uprisings and protests. Europe is an ageing continent, which urgently needs immigrants to maintain or to establish basic structures of welfare society. The need for increased immigration has coincided with growing concerns regarding internal security and the coherence of European societies. The EU as the major political and economical actor in Europe is trying at the same time to attract well-educated immigrants and to reduce the inflow of poorly educated immigrants. Managing diversity is, therefore, one of the most pressing challenges for all European societies. Targeted multiculturalism has been the main management strategy of diversity in Europe. This strategy has lead to different and consequently unequal treatment of minorities and caused an increase in tension between different ethnic, cultural and religious groups. Young members of ethnic majorities and minorities face ethnic diversity, they also might find solutions to ethnic conflicts in their everyday life encounters. Structural changes throughout Europe are hence changing the social conditions of young people.

This conference provides a forum for European youth sociologists to discuss with their colleagues the most burning issues from the point of view of young people in Europe. European sociology, including youth sociology, is also changing or at least it should change in order to be able to better understand Europe as a cultural, political and social entity the parts of which are interdependent. This conference will encourage discussion of the demands made by changing societies on youth sociology.

Keynote speakers of the conference are Claire Wallace, Professor of Sociology, University of Aberdeen, President of European Sociological Association topic: Youth and European citizenship Gary Pollock, Department of Sociology, Manchester Metropolitan University topic: Youth transitions and their family-household contexts

More information : www.youthandgeneration.org