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. 2021;33(1):1-15.
doi: 10.1057/s41287-020-00337-1. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Introduction: Development, Young People, and the Social Production of Aspirations

Roy Huijsmans  1 , Nicola Ansell  2 , Peggy Froerer  2
Affiliations

Introduction: Development, Young People, and the Social Production of Aspirations

Roy Huijsmans et al. Eur J Dev Res. 2021.

Abstract
in English, French

In this editorial introduction to the Special Issue Youth, Aspirations and the Life Course: Development and the social production of aspirations in young people's lives, we put the work presented in this collection in conversation with the wider literature on development, youth and aspirations. Aspiration we define as an orientation towards a desired future. We elaborate on our conceptualisation of aspirations as socially produced and reflect on the methodological challenges in researching young people's aspirations in development. While mindful of the various critiques of aspiration research we argue that aspirations constitute fertile terrain for theorising the temporal dynamics of being young and growing up in contexts of development.

Dans cette introduction éditoriale au numéro spécial “Jeunes, aspirations et parcours de vie: développement et production sociale des aspirations dans la vie des jeunes”, nous réalisons un parallèle entre le travail présenté dans cette collection et la littérature consacrée au développement, à la jeunesse et à ses aspirations. Nous définissons “aspiration” comme une orientation vers un avenir souhaité. Nous abordons plus amplement la façon dont nous conceptualisons les aspirations comme étant produites socialement et nous réfléchissons aux défis méthodologiques auxquels fait face la recherche sur les aspirations des jeunes dans le cadre du développement international. Tout en étant conscients des diverses critiques visant la recherche sur les aspirations, nous soutenons que les aspirations constituent un terrain fertile pour théoriser la dynamique temporelle de ce que signifie être jeune et grandir dans un contexte de développement international.

Keywords: Aspiration; Childhood; Development; Research; Temporality; Youth.

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