This comprehensive work explores various aspects of childhood and youth across Europe, highlighting the significance of social research in understanding these demographics. It begins by examining childhood as a new field of inquiry and the challenges of European youth research. The text delves into intercultural comparisons, discussing value orientations, employment trends, and family dynamics among young people in different regions and cities. The book further investigates the impact of social change on childhood, contrasting traditional and modern experiences in Southern Italy, the Nordic countries, and Sweden. It addresses the evolving family structures and transitions faced by youth in France and Russia, as well as gender segregation in Estonia's labor market. Additionally, it presents the cultural worlds and social circumstances of youth, focusing on issues of race, political attitudes in Hungary, and the experiences of young people in Portugal and Greece. The text also touches on the contradictions of modern childhood and the challenges of poverty from children's perspectives. Finally, the work outlines prospects for future research, policy, and practice, addressing the implications of social transformation in post-communist countries and the importance of children's rights within the context of the UN Convention. It concludes with discussions on youth policy challenges in the European Union and the need for cohesive
