Youth Bulges

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Before a mod steps in this isn't anything dirty

This is a study that claims that most conflict and violence stems from a population being well fed, educated, and having over 30% of the men be aged between 15 and 29.

It is too long to post the entire thing here, but I recommend giving it a read. I haven't quite decided if I think he is full of crap, but it is a good read.

read it here

 

Similar claims have been made by Steven Levitt, well, kind of...But his view doesn't entail people being "well" fed and educated.

This Gunnar Heinsohn's stuff seems to be neo-liberal propaganda bent on driving the welfare state down, with racist and nationalistic undertones. I didn't see him refer to the French revolution or the American independence. Or more recent events in western history. No mention of football hooligans, neo-nazis or criminal gangs. No mention of organized crime. I wonder why?

[ June 12, 2007, 20:48: Message edited by: Iku-Turso ]

 

....
Allow me to be blunt: he's full of ****.

Don't believe me? Well, let's see; the gangs of the Americas aren't exactly well educated, yet they represent an existential threat to many nations in Latin America, are in the process of stomping the crap out of the Mexican government, and will, quite possibly, one day pose a major threat to the US of A.

And that's but one example.

 

I would say that the youth from the middle to upper class raised in comfort and luxury, without a clear code of morals and without prohibitions or sacrifices to be made or punishment to be incurred (mostly upbringing by parents without punishment), are prone to becoming egoistic beyond measure and that is the way to crime. Basically, disregard for the needs of the other man, disregard for his feelings, an own feeling of superiority, or at least the strong, prevailing, indefatigable focus on oneself.