Head of a Movement or Arms of the State?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines the changing form of state and federal youth councils in Australia and the role of young people in them, in response to changing social and economic conditions. It argues that they were more instruments of state policy than leaders of a national youth movement. Emerging in the Second World War youth councils resourced youth organisations to maintain morale and social order and prepare young men for military service. Though youth delegates were included, councils were dominated by adult elites from traditional youth agencies. Following the war, emphasis moved from control to citizenship, but attempts to establish a British style youth service focused on social and leisure time education were unsuccessful. With the outbreak of the Cold War, conflict with left wing youth organisations escalated. A National Youth Council was finally established to give young Australians access to international forums. Traditional organisations dominated and delegates had difficulty in reconciling ...