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The Generations Z in Europe – An Introduction

Generations Z in Europe

ISBN: 978-1-78973-492-8, eISBN: 978-1-78973-491-1

Publication date: 30 September 2019

Abstract

Europe currently displays a fascinating complexity. It experiences severe disruptions in the economic and educational systems, the labour markets and the political orientation. Also, we see demographic issues with not enough young people on the one hand, and also not enough acceptable jobs on the other hand. All this raises questions regarding the consequences resulting from these dynamics for the young generation. This chapter deals in particular with the so-called ‘Generation Z’, which started – depending on the chosen author – between 1990 and 1995. In this analysis, the concept of ‘generation’ by Karl Mannheim plays an important role since it explains to us why and how cohorts of people are shaped in a specific period of time in a very similar way. When dealing with Generation Z, the following hypothesis of global convergence immediately comes up: since Generation Z is a digitally connected generation, it must move in the same direction. Even though this is partially true on the global scale, we see differences – even within Europe, since Europe is a heterogeneous space. Therefore, we cannot talk about ‘the European Generation Z’ but rather about the ‘Generations Z in Europe’ with their differences, their similarities and their dreams about their future. Besides arriving at the letter ‘Z’ in Generation Z by just continuing from X and Y to Z, the ‘Z’ provides us another interpretation: It stands for ‘zeitgeist’ and for a promising vision of Europe.

Keywords

Citation

Scholz, C. (2019), "The Generations Z in Europe – An Introduction", Scholz, C. and Rennig, A. (Ed.) Generations Z in Europe (The Changing Context of Managing People), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 3-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78973-491-120191001

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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