Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

The origins and emergence of youth 'gangs' in a British inner-city neighbourhood

  • Suzella Palmer
Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Abstract

This paper explores the changing shape of black youth cultures and youth crime since the 1970s and the emergence of ‘gangs’ in the 21st century, against the backdrop of Britain's changing social, economic and cultural conditions. Using a structural‐cultural conceptual framework, it demonstrates that like much black youth crime in the 1980s and 1990s, gang membership amongst black young males can, in part, be explained as a dysfunctional cultural adaptation to socio‐structural pressures. Yet, while tackling poverty, social and economic disadvantage and racism will alleviate some of their pressures, many young people feel they are trapped in ‘violent worlds’ and have developed a sense of nihilism, which now appears to be a more pressing problem.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 17-26

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Safer Communities (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 02/04/2009

Publication status

Published - 02/04/2009

ISSN

1757-8043

Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/224893
  • Scopus: 77953349259

Access to documents

Publication metrics