The Maltese youth - a brief overview

Abstract

It has often been argued that the close social network within Maltese society that stems from its insularity tends to smother the individuality of young people and their sense of adventure (Sultana & Baldacchino, 1994, p. 14). Moral regulations orchestrated by the Roman Catholic Church stand at the core of the Maltese society and play a crucial role in socialising the young to maintain the status quo. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the peculiarities of the Maltese culture, one set within an ex-colonial microstate' context, young people are still influenced by powerful western-inspired conspicuous consumption and de-traditionalising trends. Current forms of expression of young people need to be examined in relation to the increased anxiety experienced in their transition into adulthood within Western society. The increased individualisation is one causal factor for the unstructured and non-rigid life course transitions (Beck, 1992). Furthermore, the rise in employment competition and short-term employment coupled with financial burdens is resulting in the longevity of youth and the blurring of life course transitions (Beck, 1992; Jones, 2002). The Maltese situation of job mobility and high youth unemployment runs counter to the idea of 'a job for life'.