Elanna Nolan, Junior TSAS Affiliate and PhD candidate with UBC’s, Department of Geography reports on a panel from the Metropolis 2013 Conference that took place in March.
No social crisis appeals more to urban pessimism than the moral crisis of rioting youth, exemplified by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s labeling of disaffected marginalized youth as the homegrown “enemy within.” In the past decade we’ve witnessed youth riots in Oldham, England (2001); various French banlieues (2005); Cronulla, Australia (2005); and London, England (2011). Most of these riots have been fuelled by disenfranchised and marginalized youth, suffering institutional and locational disadvantage, racial and ethnic prejudice. These crises demonstrate the changing nature of global cities, and the dystopian effects of failing to manage coexistence. Youth hold a particularly vital position in cities today, as they represent both threat and hope for social cohesion and urban diversity.
This was the springboard from which presenters in the TSAS sponsored session, “Towards An Holistic Approach to Societal Resilience for National Security and Counter-terrorism: Stressors and solutions in the education system”, embarked. Kamran Bhatti, from the North American Spiritual Revival in Hamilton spoke about his youth leadership programs and the need to move away from “religious tolerance” to “religious inclusivity.” Bhatti suggested that new kinds of religious studies educational programming might make this possible. Professor Ingrid Johnston, from the University of Alberta, shared an Albertan high school case study, in which measures to improve inclusivity and diversity in the school were assessed with a point of focusing on societal outcomes over test scores. Professor Johnston talked about the need for a more representative teaching force, that reflected the diversity of the student population. Professor Vivek Venkatesh discussed the recent decline in youth political participation, and looked to the internet as a new site of youth political forums. Professor Venkatesh, from Concordia University, argued for a new focus on online literacy, as a way of fostering socio-political dialogue between youth. Lastly, Professor Linda Liebenberg, from Dalhousie University, introduced a social-ecological framework of resilience, in which pathologizing resilience of youth is avoided, in favour of a process of resilience. Professor Liebenberg explained the importance of the experience of service provision (i.e. education) as being of primary to youth resilience; through continue school engagement and pro-social outcomes.
Session chair, Tasleem Budhwani, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force, then drew the session to a close by inviting discussion between the panel and the audience around the need of more positive strategies for youth engagement; an opening up of dialogue for youth around religion and spirituality; and ways in which educational institutions can work toward building respect of difference and a more inclusive and cohesive society.