Children and Imperialism, Globalization and War
How have children and adolescents been affected by and influenced imperialism, globalization and war? In what ways does thinking about young people change our understanding of global events?
Dr. Kristine Alexander, Canada Research Chair in Children and Youth Studies, is researching these and other questions. Alexander is challenging and enriching our understanding of children and youth, by using new sources and innovative interpretive methods to ask how young people in Canada and beyond understood and responded to British imperialism and the First World War.
Alexander is placing young peoples’ voices, thoughts and experiences at the heart of her analysis. Her work is highlighting the ways in which representations of childhood and the experiences and life chances of young people continued to be shaped by warfare, colonialism and material inequalities tied to gender, geography, ability, class and race throughout the 20th century.
Working with the University of Lethbridge’s Institute for Child and Youth Studies, Alexander is producing new knowledge about children and youth, and how they are affected by imperialism, globalization and war, while also creating links with practitioners, policy-makers, educators and community organizations.