New Deal or Raw Deal? Dilemmas and Paradoxes of State Interventions into the Youth Labour Market

New Deal 18-24 (NDYP) is the latest in a long line of youth training and employment ‘New Deals’ designed to tackle problems of youth unemployment. In their 1997 election manifesto Labour stated their intention of getting 250,000 young people aged 18-24 off benefit and into work, education and training by 2002 as part of their welfare to work programme. It is claimed to be distinctive in reflecting the current British government’s Third Way approach to policy-making which aims to recast the relationship between the state and young citizen whilst at the same time promoting economic growth and tackling social exclusion. The development of the Third Way, and New Deal in particular, is the government’s response to wider economic and cultural changes associated with late modernity and a risk society. These have led not only to the restructuring of youth transitions, but also youth cultures and identities in contemporary societies, posing significant challenges for intervention practices. This analysis of education, training and guidance (ETG) interventions for unemployed young adults thus offers insights into the dilemmas, paradoxes and contradictions of Third Way politics and social policy.