Une jeunesse territorialisée

Regions lie at the heart of life trajectories, especially those of young people. Through the stages of life, these two variables intersect, mutually defining and influencing each other. However, analyzing youth trajectories in territorial terms represents a blind spot in sociological thought. Furthermore, the two fields of study where these topics take centre stage—namely, regional and territorial development and the sociology of youth—rarely work together to co-construct knowledge. This article aims to take stock of the relationship between young people and their territory, based on an analysis of several international research studies dealing with the topic. We explore the impact of regions on youth trajectories, approaching the latter as unpredictable processes that are shaped by multiple logics. By analyzing young people’s trajectories in this way, it becomes possible to rethink regions in terms of the realities of those who inhabit them.