Punishing youth and dystopian violence: a challenge for teachers in age of globalized neoliberalism

Abstract

With the rise of market fundamentalism and the ensuing economic and financial meltdown, poor minority youth are no longer seen as a social investment but are increasingly interpreted as a social problem and burden. Caught in a powerful crime-control-complex, young people are either viewed increasingly as commodities or find themselves subject to the dictates of an ever-expanding criminal justice system. Viewing their protests and call for quality education and a radical democracy as a threat to the social order, young people are facing increasing levels of state violence. The assault on public education is one of the most dangerous attacks launched by the forces of globalization and needs to be challenged by all public educators and young people.