651
Children’s Contributions to Democracies and Debts of Democracies to the Well-Being of Children
Children’s Contributions to Democracies and Debts of Democracies to the Well-Being of Children
Abstract Submissions Closed
Thursday, 25 February 2021: 09:00-10:30
Location:
RC53 Sociology of Childhood (host committee)
Language: English and Spanish
Session Type: Oral
Children’s participation in society has been a major issue for child researchers for some decades now. However, the idea that our democracies can be found lacking and undemocratic by the fact of excluding children still meets criticism and doubt. Other categories of people, like women or illiterate persons, were also found unsuitable to fully participate in the political system in the past which demanded fierce struggles to change the status quo but also efforts to further reconceptualise what democracies are. The relevance of children’s contributions as political actors has been reluctantly recognised, either as preparatory action, or as play when, in both cases, children are confirmed as not really apt for politics yet. This session invites papers which aim at discussing children’s contributions to democratic life in two major directions. Firstly, having in view that political action is not circumscribed to formal or state politics, theoretical and empirical papers are invited to bring forth and discuss articulations between some conception of politics and children’s actions. In what ways can children’s actions be rendered political even if the political recognition of their deeds seems frequently denied? How should the notions of democracy and politics be reconstructed to accommodate children’s difference to democratic life? Secondly, empirical papers that highlight how democratic values are enhanced by children’s cultural and social contribution are most welcome. Thereby the specific contribution of children to democracies should be foreground for fear that democracies should become debased.
Session Organizers: