Klar! Parat! Arbejdsløs... En antropologisk undersøgelse af dansk arbejdsløshedspolicy og unge, arbejdsløse danskere uden uddannelse

Sammanfattning: This present study is a qualitative examination of government policy regarding Danish, unemployed and uneducated youths. The empirical basis for the study consists of fieldwork, in the form of participant observation and qualitative interviews. The physical field of study consisted of the municipality of Uddannelsesby. Within the study informants, such as the aforementioned youths, but also municipally hired people, whose jobs consist of actually managing these youths in compliance with government policy, are observed and interviewed. Actual policy demands that people under the age of 30 have to make efforts, in a direction of education, if they want to be eligible for financial support from the state in case of unemployment. Policy in this regard takes the appearance of care and worry, and claims to be developed in the best interest of the youths, which is why one could be puzzled by the occasional objection to this policy. This puzzle is also what inspired this study to delve further into the structures of policy, and investigate its relationship to and effects on the people it governs. The study shows, that neoliberal presentation of social norms, such as the expectancy of obtaining an education as a youth, creates a series of social events, both structurally and individually. Through certain forms of government, such as “friendly power application” and not only sheer force, it is possible to generate circumstances, which make the youths act in accordance to actual policy. Not only do they act in accordance, though. The actual understanding of right and wrong, inherent in individuals, is altered through what Foucault notes as “technologies of the self”. These are in part triggered by the presentation of social norms in government policy. The study also shows that such normalizing methods of government, is not without consequences. Youths do not just assimilate, but seem to develop mentally distorted images of themselves, as they are exposed to what others deem appropriate behavior. This happens as the youths try to stay true to themselves regarding other aspects of life, not necessarily associated with education.