Youth styles, counterculture and politics

Abstract

This article presents a discussion about the alternative counterculture character of some styles or cultures of juveniles, with its political implications. To fulfill this objective, the authors develop a conceptual framework that defines the boundary of discussion, comparing basic elements of the “hippie” culture of the early sixties, with the “techno” culture of the nineties. One of the central elements, in a comparative level, is the consumption of certain drugs and their effects in the contexts of each juvenile style. In conclusion, the authors set forth some propositions about the role of the juvenile cultures, and more specifically, of their possible political meanings in our contemporary societies.