Aim and Structure
The aim of RC34 is to contribute to the development of theory and practice of youth sociology and youth research on an international level, uniting professional knowledge, scientific consciousness, and social commitment of its members to work on problems and issues of youth on a local, regional, and international level.
The Committee is constituted by associational principles of individual membership, formal statutes, and a General Meeting every fourth year at the World Congresses, at which a new Executive Board is elected to oversee the RC between the Congresses. The work of RC34 is built on regional Vice-Presidencies managing local RC34 activities and networking in their respective areas of the world, along with a Bureau taking care of the membership services and general, strategic affairs connected to the Presidency. An Advisory Board can be appointed by the Board, as a body for special experiences and strategic competence in the field.
History of ISA RC34 “Sociology of Youth”
The International Sociological Association (ISA) was founded 1948 in close cooperation with UNESCO’s Research Department. As peace, education and youth issues were in the forefront of the post war, sociopolitical legacy of this foundation, many of the first officers of ISA were also youth sociologists. In 1975, the Research Committee for the Sociology of Youth (RC34) was established as a specialized branch of ISA.
The RC34 was from the beginning not only a network for pure academic youth research, but also committed to the original heritage of social and political responsibility. This implies standing partnership with multilateral organizations aiming at conflict resolution, peace and the development of civic society. It is also the policy of RC34 to invite colleagues from other disciplines as well as practitioners in the youth fields to become members, and to serve as a global, interdisciplinary network and meeting place for youth issues in general.
Key links for the ISA RC34 “Sociology of Youth”
The website of the International Sociological Association (ISA)
The subsite of our research committee RC34 on the ISA website