Research on youth in Colombia: Construction of individuals from specialized discourses

Abstract

Starting from a state of the art made in 2004 about qualitative research in Colombian youth for the period 1985-2003, a reflection is proposed about specialized knowledge production. This discourse gives shape to notions of youth and also constructs young problems from the topics it questions. Some of the most recurrent representations of young people are presented in Colombian researches, as well as four of the principal topics the studies have focused on. This article exemplifies how concern and interest in specific social authorities, creates researches in country’s particular times and contexts.