Author Biography

Caroline Sarojini Hart is Senior Lecturer in Education at Sheffield Hallam University, UK, and Affiliated Lecturer in Education at the University of Cambridge, UK.Mario Biggeri is Associate Professor of Development Economics at the University of Florence, Italy.Bernhard Babic is an independent social development consultant and researcher, and Senior Project Manager for Caritas, Germany.

Table of Contents

Introduction, Caroline Sarojini HartPart I: Agency and Participation in Childhood and Youth 1. The Capability Approach and Educational Research, Caroline Sarojini Hart (Sheffield Hallam University, UK)2. Education Policy for Agency and Participation, Mario Biggeri (University of Florence, Italy)3. The Capability Approach and Children's Rights, Daniel Stoecklin (Institut Universitaire Kurt Bosch, Switzerland) and Jean-Michel Bonvin (School of Health and Social Work, EESP (École d'Études Sociales et Pédagogiques), Switzerland)4. Agency, Participation and Youth Inequalities, Zoe Clark (Bielefeld University, Germany)5. Child Poverty from a Capability Perspective, Ortrud Lessmann (Helmut-Schmidt-Universität, University of the Federal Armed Forces, Germany)Part II: Developing Agency and Capabilities in Schools and Beyond6. Pedagogies to Develop Children's Agency in Schools, Marina Santi (University of Padova, Italy) and Diego Di Masi (University of Padova, Italy)7. Education and the Capabilities of Children with Special Needs, Christina Devecchi (University of Northampton, UK), Richard Rose (University of Northampton, UK) and Michael Shevlin (Trinity College, Dublin)8. Evaluating Children's Capabilities Enhancement in Schools, John Schischka (Christchurch Polytechnic University of Technology, New Zealand)9. Agency, Participation and Transitions Beyond School, Caroline Hart (Sheffield Hallam University, UK)10. School Enrolment and Child Labour, Zina Nimeh (Maastricht University, Netherlands) and Robert Bauchmuller (Maastricht University, Netherlands)11. Children's Autonomy in Conflict-Affected Countries, Jérôme Ballet (UMI Résiliences), Claudine Dumbi (Higher Institute of Agro-Veterinary Science, Kimwenza) and Benoit Lallau (University of Lille, France)12. Youth Participation outside the Classroom, Vittorio Iervese (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Italy) and Luisa Tuttolomondo (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Italy)Concluding Remarks, Caroline Sarojini Hart (Sheffield Hallam University, UK), Mario Biggeri (University of Florence, Italy), Bernhard Babic (Caritas, Germany) and Clemens Sedmak (King's College London, UK)Subject IndexAuthor Index

Review

In this important and challenging book the authors make a strong case for the 'capability approach' as a framework for promoting real freedom, and for applying that concept to a social category which is treated as far less than human, children. This book is a powerful argument to look at childhood, education and youth through the capability lens and treat children with the dignity and respect to which they are entitled. It is a demanding new agenda for the interaction between children and adults. We must cease seeing children as adults in waiting, and see adulthood as dependent upon the development of real freedoms in children. -- Koy Thomson, Chief Executive, Children in Crisis
In linking the concepts of capability and agency together this book provides a fresh and innovative approach to understanding children's lives in and outside schools. Drawing on insights gleaned from international contexts, the contributors to this volume offer new ways in which to promote greater social justice and participation for children that is a welcome addition to the childhood studies literature. -- Allison James, Professor of Sociology, University of Sheffield, UK
This is a welcome and timely addition to the growing literature on capabilities and children and young people. The international perspective is welcome but the greatest appeal of the pieces gathered together here is in their universal insight into how the capability approach can be increasingly applied to redefine the challenges some children face, and to reframe the parameters of the debate about what is possible to overcome them.Anyone with an interest in how children flourish and thrive through and in education will find the clarity with which the potential of the capability approach is described here to be both fascinating and challenging. Educationalists, researchers and policy makers will recognise in this collection both a new way of thinking about education, its value and purpose and a vital re-statement of the centrality of children and young people's participation in making education a genuinely fulfilling and transformative experience. -- Fergus Crow, Director of Partnerships, National Children's Bureau, UK

Promotional

Critically applies the capability approach to an international exploration of the nature of children and youths' agency and participation, inside and outside of schools

Long Description

Agency and Participation in Childhood and Youth presents new critical engagement in conceptualising the roles of youth agency and participation in education, development and the pursuit of social justice. Theoretically, the book is framed within the paradigm of the capability approach, initially developed by Nobel Laureate, Amartya Sen, and further differentiated by others, including philosopher, Martha Nussbaum. The book unravels the complex relationships between the nature of youth agency and participation, in education, but also in wider political, economic and social arenas, and the potential of young people to expand their freedoms to lead lives they have reason to value. It is thus argued that ethical, sustainable development is contingent on the nature of youth agency and participation in schooling and further afield. ..Bringing together leading international experts researching children's capabilities, Agency and Participation in Childhood and Youth offers a unique exploration of links between exciting new areas of development in theory, research and practical applications of Sen and Nussbaum's ideas. The book addresses a significant gap in the literature drawing on empirical data from the UK, the USA, Jordan, Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Switzerland, New Zealand and beyond, with perspectives presented from both within and outside schools and other formal educational settings. .. Agency and Participation in Childhood and Youth is of particular interest to academics, teaching professionals, undergraduate and postgraduate students of education studies, social policy, youth and development studies.

Review Quote

This is a welcome and timely addition to the growing literature on capabilities and children and young people. The international perspective is welcome but the greatest appeal of the pieces gathered together here is in their universal insight into how the capability approach can be increasingly applied to redefine the challenges some children face, and to reframe the parameters of the debate about what is possible to overcome them. Anyone with an interest in how children flourish and thrive through and in education will find the clarity with which the potential of the capability approach is described here to be both fascinating and challenging. Educationalists, researchers and policy makers will recognise in this collection both a new way of thinking about education, its value and purpose and a vital re-statement of the centrality of children and young people's participation in making education a genuinely fulfilling and transformative experience.

Promotional "Headline"

Critically applies the capability approach to an international exploration of the nature of children and youths' agency and participation, inside and outside of schools

Feature

Develops new theoretical and practical applications of the capability approach to enhance child and youth agency and participation

Details