Violence among young people in leisure time: The case of the city of Bologna

The paper explores the features and reasons of violent conflicts among young people groups in a specific setting: the university area of Bologna. Drawing on a qualitative study based on interviews and observation, the dynamics of conflict among different groups (drug dealers, young urban travellers, drug addicted, and students in search of night-time leisure activities), the competition for the use of public space, the consequences in terms of perception of insecurity in the area, and the role of alcohol and drugs in the dynamics of conflicts are explored and explained.