The concept of Identity Crisis came into usage in the 1940s and it has continued to dominate
the cultural zeitgeist ever since. In his exploration of the historical origins of this
development Frank Furedi argues that the principal driver of the 'crisis of identity' was and
continues to be the conflict surrounding the socialisation of young people. In turn the
politicisation of this conflict provides a terrain on which the Culture Wars and the
politicisation of identity can flourish. Through exploring the interaction between the problems
of socialisation and identity this study offers a unique account of the origins and rise of
the Culture Wars.
