Thinking juvenile citizenship: Two ethnographical examples from Switzerland

On the basis of two researches projects conducted at different types of institution, we will interrogate the notion of citizenship and explain how this notion is conceived and used by the institutional agents and the people whom they interact. We will also try demonstrating how ethnological research in institution can contribute both for academic and practical knowledge.

In the first research project (see for example Ossipow 2011), we are examining “horizontal” and “vernacular” notion of citizenship. We are discussing how educators and young people living in juvenile facilities interact with each other and negotiate activities and rules.  We will also illuminate, how in this context, citizenship turns to civility and the necessity to sensitize educational and political authorities to the paradoxical question of juvenile autonomy.

In the second research project (Ossipow, Csupor 2011) - which is more about “vertical” and “state” citizenship- we describe the Swiss civic ceremony of reaching adulthood for young people when they turn  18). We will to document how the local politicians think about citizenship and how young people experience the ceremony.  In addition to this ethnographical approach, we take a  more historical perspective which  allows  us  to document the evolution of the ceremony since 1924 (date of the first ceremony in Geneva) and the non/places reserved for immigrant youth.  

OSSIPOW Laurence, CSUPOR Isabelle

2011. Manufacturing young people’s citizenship through political rituals: Experiences of young adults and local politicians. Bern: FNS (work in progress).

OSSIPOW Laurence

2011. « La citoyenneté à l’épreuve des rites : l’exemple des réunions de foyer dans un dispositif d’éducation spécialisée » Pensées plurielles 26 : 65-80