Contemporary Irish youth work policy and practice: A Governmental analysis |
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Authors: | Elizabeth Kiely |
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Affiliation: | Applied Social Studies, University College Cork National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland |
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Abstract: | This article analyzes the governmental rationalities informing youth work policy in the contemporary Irish context. Since 2008, the implementation of neoliberalized austerity in Ireland has been destructive in terms of the number of young people's services closing and disruptions to youth work provision. Adopting a governmentality perspective, we argue that recent youth work policy developments are also undermining the integrity of youth work as youth work. Against current governmental rationalities, which privilege evidence-based practice, value for money approaches and the delivery of prescribed outcomes, we argue for a re-imagining of youth work for a postneoliberal, postevidence-based practice world. |
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Keywords: | Governmentality Ireland neoliberalized austerity youth work |
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