The Government of Childhood

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 1-6

3. Conceptualising Governmentality

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 7-37

4. Subjects of Government

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 38-74

5. Disciplining Childhood

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 75-129

6. The Gentle Way in Child Government

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 130-174

7. Governing the Responsible Child

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 175-197

8. Conclusion

   • Karen M. Smith

   Pages 198-203

9. Back Matter

   Pages 204-256

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Grounded in the Foucauldian literature on governmentality and drawing on a broad range of disciplines, this book examines the government of childhood in the West from the early modern period to the present. The book deals with three key time-periods and examines shifts in the conceptualization and regulation of childhood and child-rearing.

• Childhood
• governmentality
• discipline
• pastoral power
• original sin
• stoicism
• epicureanism
• Hobbes
• Rousseau
• child
• childhood
• freedom
• government
• liberty
• childhood studies

“The Government of Childhood: Discourse, Power and Subjectivity details how power has historically been exercised over youth and how children’s ability to employ agency has evolved from the early modern period to the present. … The Government of Childhood is a significant contribution to childhood and youth studies. Additionally, Smith’s engagement with a number of theorists, including Michel, Foucault, Nikolas Rose, and Chris Jenks, results in rigorous discussions and critiques of these theorists, making the book a thought-provoking read.” (Julia M. Gossard, The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, Vol. 9 (1), Winter, 2016)

• Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland

  Karen M. Smith

Karen M. Smith is a Lecturer at Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland and at University College Dublin, Ireland. Her research and teaching interests lie in the area of children and social policy.

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