The Swinging Sixties in claustrophobic Malta : the rise of Malta’s mixed youth clubs

Abstract

While today’s young generation indulge in browsing through virtual social networks on the Internet, the picture was radically different fifty years ago when a colonial mentality pervaded Malta well into the years after the country had achieved its Independence. In those times, youngsters would gather in youth centres run by parishes or else unite within rather conservative scenarios, in religious organisations such as the Society of Christian Doctrine, the Catholic Action Movement or the Legion of Mary. The Young Christian Workers, a Catholic body with followers hailing from all over Malta, found shelter during the 1962 General Election under the so-called ‘umbrella’ set up as a sign of solidarity towards Archbishop Michael Gonzi. Despite this conservative attitude, there was the rebellious determination of other youths who were combating the traditional hierarchy that endeavoured to hinder the internationalisation of modern values. As a concrete sign of this forward trend, several mixed youth clubs which were formed in the early 1960s, came together to set up a federation which would better safeguard their newly acquired interests.