Jugendkulturelle Eigenwelten in der postindustriellen Gesellschaft

Abstract

This essay attempts to bring together two notions at the intersection of pedagogy, youth theory and socio-political engagement. While the classical Enlightenment based tolerance and social commitment on universal values, the modern political enlightenment of the 19th and 20th centuries added an empirical/psychological dimension of subjective social engagement. Both forms of the Enlightenment posit that individuals become truly citizens through community-oriented action and through identities that combine the „self“ with the community. Fractionation in the postindustrial society produces deep challenges to the formation of common identities. Personal freedom from traditionally-prescribed identities and career paths is a potential gain, but youth can be deeply hindered by a lack of resources (material, cultural, social) to exploit that freedom. They can also be blocked by an opportunity structure that limits their access through barriers such as social class, gender, and ethnicity. The effects on „postindustrial“ identity formation create serious challenges for both youth and the social-political systems of which they are part. Examples from Japan, Israel, Great Britain and the United States describe variations on this theme that reach across cultures. A potential, but still largely undeveloped countertrend among youth is described as a positive development in community social capital.