The Political Life of Children

by Robert Coles

Capturing the voices of children who live in a broad spectrum of social, economic, ethnic, political, and cultural conditions, the author proves the origins of political consciousness in such diverse cultures as the United States, South Africa, Poland, Brazil, and Southeast Asia

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Politics, Education, Childrens, Social Science, Sociology

341 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1987

About the author

Child psychiatrist, author, Harvard professor.

Robert Coles is a professor of psychiatry and medical humanities at the Harvard Medical School, a research psychiatrist for the Harvard University Health Services, and the James Agee Professor of Social Ethics at Harvard College.

Reviews

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an invaluable resource for those of us who understand that (1) politics and power is a dimension of ordinary experience continuous with what happens in the halls of power; (2) the same is true of children's experience; (3) children are not just formally educated in civics, patriotism, and political values, but socialized into partisan perspectives by their families, schools, and religious communities; and (4) children also have remarkably astute, independent, deeply philosophical insights into the politics of their families, neighborhoods, and nations.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book ... if I'm allowed to give decimal rating, I would say 3.5. But it's more or less a child psychology book that focuses on children in political situations. In other words, children living in Northern Ireland, apartheid-era South Africa, civil rights-era South, communist Poland, etc. So it's interesting to listen to the children from around the world confront how they feel about their lives and those they see as being "better" or "worse" than them. How much are they copying parents? How much is based on their world view? Interesting stuff. It's by no means a quick read, but if you're interested in (academic) political science, psychology, and, specifically, child psychology, this is the book for you.