Parenting and the State in Britain and Europe, c. 1870-1950

Download or read book Parenting and the State in Britain and Europe, c. 1870-1950 written by Hester Barron and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-12-29 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This innovative collection draws on original research to explore the dynamic interactions between parents, governments and their representatives across a range of European contexts; from democratic Britain and Finland, to Stalinist Russia and Fascist Italy. The authors pay close attention to the various relationships and dynamics between parents and the state, showing that the different parties were defined not solely by coercion or manipulation, but also by collaboration and negotiation. Parents were not passive recipients of government direction: rituals and cultures of parenting could both affirm and undermine state politics. Readers will find this collection crucial to understanding family life and the role of the state during a period when both underwent significant change.