Cross Sectoral Youth Policy and Power

This contribution aims to analyze the experimentation of a transversal approach in terms of appropriation by local actors at a local level. It is based on the material collected in an ongoing research project on the Breton territory. The project "Jeunes en TTTrans," the first winner of the Future Investment Program (co-financed by the French State, local and regional authorities, agencies, and joint organizations), supports the emergence of integrated and global youth policies.

Our contribution will consist of two main points: the characterization of an ambiguous notion which appears to be unifying in nature but which actually hides multiple perceptions and public youth problems definitions (1); the study of the local actors relations to the transversal approach and the way it questions the notion of power (2).

On the first axis, we will pay particular attention to the process of explaining the usefulness of the transversal approach. We observe an ambiguity in the virtues assigned to it. They mask a plurality of different qualifications, and as a result the actors are sometimes tempted to give direction to the process corresponding to their own agendas. For example, elected officials see an opportunity to reduce costs and act on the “proliferation” of actors, while some youth professionals mobilize external resources to try to transform public policy and influence their own institutions.

On the second axis, we focus on individual and group figures at the beginning of the implementation of a cross-sectoral approach. After analyzing the divergent interests of the local actors, we will study more precisely their postures and enrollment in this global approach. Through this path we discuss the notion of power in the design and implementation of youth policy.

By attempting to answer these questions, we position ourselves to answer the needs of this session.