Sin luz al final del túnel. Jóvenes ante la quiebra del pacto intergeneracional en la Gran Recesión

Abstract

The Great Recession in Spain has created new paths leading toward adulthood. While labour precariousness and difficulties leaving the parental home are not new, this was the first time that younger generations faced bleak long-term prospects. As the crisis deepened, it became increasingly evident that the disadvantages experienced by former generations, this time would not be temporary, with any hope that individuals could endure a period of hardship before reaching, sooner rather than later, the safe harbour where they would eventually enjoy the privileges of adulthood. In this article, I examine the social and political processes that produced sentiments of subjective vulnerability during the Great Recession and different reactions to the new prospects. The last section focuses on the political strategies employed by of the two main political parties in the Spanish landscape, PSOE and PP, to accommodate the new demands and uncertainties faced by young people.