Disconnected Youth? Conclusions

Abstract

What have we learned about youth transitions in some of Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods? How closely do the experiences described here connect with popular and influential theories of the excluded, underclass? The first half of this chapter considers these questions in the light of our findings. The second locates the answers we give in a more panoramic discussion of the socio-economic, historical and geographical contexts that help us comprehend more fully the biographical narratives that have formed the basis of this book. We conclude with a brief, critical foray into contemporary policy debates about the social exclusion of youth in poor neighbourhoods.