Governing youth: Configurations of EU Youth policy
Governing youth: Configurations of EU Youth policy

Summary/Abstract: The European Union has developed a range of measures to coordinate the actions of governments and other institutionalized actors in the field of youth as well as practical programs and actions directly addressing young individuals. Applying the Foucauldian analytics of government approach, this paper shows that EU Youth Policy is a particular field of government simultaneously regulating the actions of actors dealing with youth issues while also directing the ‘proper’ behavior and conduct of young individuals primarily as jobseekers. The Open Method of Coordination and the Structured Dialogue as modes of governance are used at the EU level to disperse political power across a range of institutions. Governing is accomplished through the notions of the involvement and equivalence of partners dealing with youth issues. Complementing this, by implementing the Youth in Action Program the EU is directly encouraging young Europeans to be selfresponsible and to act as active economically valuable (prospective) workers.

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