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.

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)

Autorentext
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.

Inhalt
Introduction: Childhood, Discourse and Power 1. Conceptualising Governmentality 2. Subjects of Freedom 3. Disciplining Childhood 4. The Gentle Way in Child Government 5. Governing the Responsible Child Conclusion