Grounded in the Foucauldian literature on governmentality and drawing on a broad range of disciplines, this book examines the government of childhood in the West from the early modern period to the present. The book deals with three key time-periods and examines shifts in the conceptualization and regulation of childhood and child-rearing.

Introduction: Childhood, Discourse and Power 1. Conceptualising Governmentality 2. Subjects of Freedom 3. Disciplining Childhood 4. The Gentle Way in Child Government 5. Governing the Responsible Child Conclusion

“The Government of Childhood: Discourse, Power and Subjectivity details how power has historically been exercised over youth and how children’s ability to employ agency has evolved from the early modern period to the present. … The Government of Childhood is a significant contribution to childhood and youth studies. Additionally, Smith’s engagement with a number of theorists, including Michel, Foucault, Nikolas Rose, and Chris Jenks, results in rigorous discussions and critiques of these theorists, making the book a thought-provoking read.” (Julia M. Gossard, The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, Vol. 9 (1), Winter, 2016)