Daniel Stoecklin

Theories of action in the field of child participation: In search of explicit frameworks

The article explores child participation from the perspective of the sociology of action. Despite the important literature on child participation following adoption of the UNCRC, a consistent theory of child participation is still missing. The distinction between the child as a subject of rights and the child as a social actor draws attention to the cumulative and systemic nature of action. Applications of a new model going in this direction are presented. They foster discussion on children’s agency and give insights for assessing implicit theories of action lying behind child participation.

Children’s multidimensional agency: Insights into the structuration of choice:

The structuration of agency that lies behind children’s accounts of their well-being in Australia is highlighted. The three forms of agency that are evidenced from the data – agency as competence, agency as self-determination and agency as practical action in everyday contexts – provide insights regarding the characteristics of social structure. The multidimensionality of agency appears in practical achievements, individual choices and everyday action that are all constituted intersubjectively. Theories dealing with the complex links between choice and reflexive monitoring allow better understanding of agency.

Cross-Fertilizing Children’s Rights and the Capability Approach. The Example of the Right to Be Heard in Organized Leisure

The authors explore new ways of conceptualizing children’s citizenship and participation through the capabilities approach (Sen 1999) applied to children (Biggeri et al. 2011). They highlight factors that must be considered when observing how formal entitlements, such as the rights of the child, can (or cannot) be transformed into real freedom to participate. Their study conducted in Switzerland and in France shows the conditions for the right to be heard (art. 12 UNCRC) to be converted into effective participation in organised leisure activities.

Group Dynamics of Children in Street Situations

This chapter is divided by street children’s and homeless youth’s interactions with the public into their intra group behavior and their relationships outside of their own subculture. This means from their intimate same sex dyads, to their behavior when they are only among themselves, to their role in their local culture given ihems historical record, and finally to their role in the global youth culture.

Children in Street Situations: Street Children and Homeless Youth

The authors introduce the extent and longevity of non-domiciled children and youth. While multiple definitions are presented, the authors divide the current status of non domiciled youth by homeless youth in the developed world and street children in the developing world. The origins of homeless youth are related to abuse. They are older than street children, more likely to come from middle class families, and equal in gender. A necessary condition of street children is poverty; several other factors are important including abuse, neglect, and historical and cultural context. Nor are all street children are on the street solely because of psychological reasons. Many are there because they are poor and being on the street is one way of coping with poverty by finding income generating sources. Many other street children are victims of war and natural disasters. Others are stateless. Comparisons and differences between street children and working children are introduced. For example, street children and homeless youth often rebel against authoritarian parents.

Institutionalisation of Children’s Rights: Transformability and Situated Agency

In a previous article (Stoecklin, 2017), I considered the example of the “paradox of institutionalisation” (Stammers, 2013) occurring in the drafting of the General Comment on Children in Street Situations ( UNCRC , 2016). The vision of children’s “living rights” as the outcome of a structured process translating specific claims into an institutionalised set of norms (Hanson and Nieuwenhuys, 2013) has been identified. Analysis of the labels used for “street children” underlines the transformability of signification, domination and legitimation in the theory of structuration (Giddens, 1979, 1984). In this article, a theory of situated agency is outlined. It provides a new framework to understand the institutionalisation of children’s rights as the dual structuration of subjects (children) and objects (rights) occuring in given contexts. This makes “rights acting children” emerge as an interdisciplinary concept.

Recognition and Capability: A New Way to Understand How Children Can Achieve Their Rights?

This chapter explores how we can better understand children’s place in society using two theoretical models: recognition theory and the capability approach. It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of each theoretical approach, and how they can be used in combination. While recognition theory focuses on personal identity, the capability approach is primarily concerned with acts that people have the freedom to perform. The link between activities and identities is a central issue, mediated as it is by specific values. The chapter also considers the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as an example of how children’s place in intergenerational relations is constructed. It concludes with a review of current attempts to use the two theories to inform and guide empirical research with children.

The General Comment on Children in Street Situations: Insights into the Institutionalisation of Children’s Rights

The drafting of the General Comment ( GC ) on Children in Street Situations ( UNCRC , 2016), whereby the sociological perspective (Lucchini, 1993, 1996, 2007; Stoecklin, 2000a, 2007) that informed this labelling becomes lost in translation, provides a convincing example of the ‘paradox of institutionalisation’ (Stammers, 2013). The vision of children’s “living rights” as the outcome of a structured process translating specific claims into an institutionalised set of norms (Hanson and Nieuwenhuys, 2013) is thus specified. Analysis of the labels used for “street children” underlines the transformability of signification, domination and legitimisation in the theory of structuration (Giddens, 1979, 1984).

Introduction: A New Vision of Street Children and Homeless and Runaway Youth

We approach this work in five parts. The first chapter orients our readers to street children who live in the developing world, and homeless youth who are from the developed world, who when we refer to both we call children in street situations (CSS).

Research with Children in Street Situations

Research for street children and homeless begins accurate numbers. Once the objects of the study are clear we need to establish a valid procedure for choosing a random sample. One model is based on what is used for peripatetic groups. This begins with a clear definition of households, mapping high and low concentrations and taking a random sample of the map sectors. Potential problems include time of day the data is collected, who the data collector is, the difficulty of using standardized tests, and the importance of translation and back translation.