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Thatcher´s Grandchildren explores sociological and political issues about childhood that have that have become increasingly significant in the twenty first century within a political landscape framed by neo-liberalism. Issues addressed include child protection and abuse, the media, education and schooling, and poverty.

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Introduction: Sociology, Politics and Childhood: Contemporary Landscapes Jane Pilcher and Stephen Wagg 1. ´´Kill a Kid and get a House´: Rationality versus Retribution in the Case of Robert Thompson and John Venables 1993-2001; Julian Petley 2. Citizen Journalists or Cyber Bigots? Child Abuse, the Media and the Possibilities for Public Conversation: The Case of Baby P; Bob Franklin 3. The Changing Politics and Practice of Child Protection and Safeguarding in England; Nigel Parton 4. Child Trafficking: Known Unknowns and Unknown Knowns ; Julia O´Connell Davidson 5. ´What Have the Romans Ever Done For Us?´ Child Poverty and the Legacy of ´New´ Labour; Danny Dorling 6. ´When I Give Food to the Poor...´ Some Thoughts on Charity, Childhood and the Media; Stephen Wagg 7. A Coming or Going of Age? Children´s Literature at the Turn of the Twenty First Century; David Rudd 8. Punishment, Populism and Performance Management: ´New´ Labour, Youth, Crime and Justice; Tim Newburn 9. Children´s Rights Since Margaret Thatcher; Marc Cornock and Heather Montgomery 10. Whiteboard Jungle: Schooling, Culture War and the Market for Children´s Minds at the Turn of the Twenty First Century; Stephen Wagg 11. Troubling Families: Parenting and the Politics of Early Intervention; Val Gillies 12. Re-colonising the Digital Natives: The Politics of Childhood and Technology from Blair to Gove; Keri Facer 13. Kids For Sale? Childhood and Consumer Culture; David Buckingham 14. The Politics of Children´s Clothing; Jane Pilcher 15. Children´s Rights or Employers´ Rights? The ´Destigmatisation´ of Child Labour; Steve Cunningham and Michael Lavalette 16. Saving the Children? Pornography, Childhood and the Internet; David Buckingham and Despina Chronaki

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Julian Petley, Brunel University, UK Bob Franklin, Cardiff School of Journalism, UK Nigel Parton, University of Huddersfield, UK Julia O´Connell Davidson, University of Nottingham, UK Danny Dorling, University of Oxford, UK David Rudd, University of Bolton, UK Marc Cornock, Open University, UK Heather Montgomery, Open University, UK Val Gillies, London South Bank University, UK Keri Facer, University of Bristol, UK David Buckingham, Loughborough University, UK Steve Cunningham, University of Central Lancashire, UK Michael Lavalette, Liverpool Hope University, UK Despina Chronaki, independent scholar, UK

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