Burnt by Democracy: Youth, Inequality, and the Erosion of Civic Life

“Burnt by Democracy provides us with a rich and insightful picture of the ways youth understand democracy and what the political and personal implications of these varied understandings are. But just as importantly, it also goes beyond description by wisely pointing to necessary policies and actions that interrupt dominance.” Michael W. Apple, John Bascom Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and author of Can Education Change Society?

“Burnt by Democracy is accurate, timely, and succinct. Jacqueline Kennelly takes readers across time and place, outlining methodological considerations, and providing a convincing theoretical framing. Incorporating ideas of Bourdieu and Arendt, interdisciplinary audiences will learn something new without being overwhelmed. There is a good balance between empirical and theoretical richness. The book provides opportunities to think optimistically alongside young people, while also igniting attention towards continued injustice.” Yvette Taylor, Professor of Education, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

“It is refreshing to see a work on youth politics and citizenship that engages seriously with political theory. Burnt by Democracy is innovative in the field and a substantial advance in the field’s state of the art. Kennelly offers a genuinely new research agenda in studies of youth citizenship that is engaging seriously with the way that structural inequalities interact with various forms of politics to shape political practices. The book moves decisively beyond the rather limited contemporary emphasis on participation in all of its forms.” David Farrugia, ARC Future Fellow, Deakin University