JOURNAL ARTICLES

Bessant, J., and Collin, P., Krutsch, E., 2025, ‘Why It’s Time: Lowering the Voting Age in a Polycrisis’, Applied Journal of Youth Studies: 1-17 https://doi.org/10.1007/s43151-025-00198-7

Bessant, J., Prost , A., and Watts, R., 2025,  Intergenerational Climate Justice:  Applying Theory to Policy in the Anthropocene, Journal applied Youth Studies - DO1 10.1007/s43151-025-00191-0.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43151-025-00191-0

Bessant, J., Patrick O’Keefe, P., and Drake, M., ‘Civics and Education and Citizenship in the Anthropocene’, Applied Journal of Youth Studies, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/396868017_Civics_Education_and_Citizenship_in_the_Anthropocene 

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2025, ‘Young and invisible in a time of poly-crisis: reframing the problem and finding solutions’, Journal of Youth Studies, https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2025.2468478 

O’Keefe, P., Bessant, J., and Drake, M., 2025, ‘The Politics of Framing the Student Problem: inquiries into Australian Civics Education, 2006–2024’, Australian Journal of Social Issues -  https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.70067

Kapeke, K., Saw, P., Krutsch, E., Burgner, C., Pitt, H., Desai, R., Muse, K., Rowan, J., Nalupta, C., Bessant, J., Sawyer, S., Wardak, S., 2024, ‘Young voices, healthy futures: the rationale for lowering the voting age to 16’, Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 221, no. S10, pp. S18–S22, https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52496 

Bessant, J., O’Keeffe, P., and Watts, R., 2024, ‘Dirt jumps and children’s guerrilla play: parkland as contested space during the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia’, International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure, vol. 8, pp. 11–36, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41978-024-00167-z 

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2024, ‘A new ontology and youth work ethics in a time of planetary crisis’, Ethics and Social Welfare, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 131–148, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17496535.2024.2324313#abstract  

Watts, R., Bessant, J., Jackson., S., Catanzaro, M., and Collin, P. 2024, ‘The political in the Anthropocene: reflections on a ministerial veto 2021’, Australian Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 431–444, https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2023.37 

Bessant, J., Collin, P., and Rob Watts, R., 2023, ‘“Blah, Blah, Blah … [not] business as usual”: politics through the lens of young female climate leaders’, Australian Journal of Political Science, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 477–493, https://doi.org/10.1080/10361146.2023.2224239 

Bessant, J., 2020, ‘From denizen to citizen: contesting representations of young people and the voting age’, Journal of Applied Youth Studies, vol. 3, pp. 223–240, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43151-020-00014-4 

Bessant, J., Pickard, S., and Watts, R., 2019, ‘Translating Bourdieu into youth studies’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 76–92, https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2019.1702633 

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2019, ‘Public administration, Habermas and the crisis of legitimacy in the youth justice system: an Australian case study’, Administrative Theory & Praxis, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 483–500, https://doi.org/10.1080/10841806.2019.1678352 

Bessant, J., 2019, ‘North of the future: professionalisation, youth work and the digital technology’, Commonwealth Youth and Development Journal, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 1–20, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335177163_North_of_the_Future_Professional_Youth_Work_and_Digital_Technology 

Bessant, J., and Grasso, M., 2019, ‘Security and the liberal-democratic state: criminalizing young people’s politics’, Revista Internacional de Sociología, vol. 77, no. 4, pp. 1–12. https://revintsociologia.revistas.csic.es/index.php/revintsociologia/article/download/1042/1400?inline=1 

Pickard, S., and Bessant, J., 2018, ‘France’s #Nuit Debout Social Movement: Young People Rising Up and Moral Emotions’, Societies, vol. 8, no. 4, article 100, https://doi.org/10.3390/soc8040100 

Bessant, J., 2018, ‘Young precariat and a new work order? A case for historical sociology’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 21, no. 6, pp. 780–798, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2017.1420762 

Bessant, J., 2017, ‘Criminalizing youth politics’, Legal Cultures Journal, vol. 4, no. 7. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2017, ‘New politics and satire: the Euro financial crisis and the one-finger salute’, Information, Communication & Society, vol. 20, no. 7, pp. 1057–1072. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2017, ‘Self-care in public and community sector workplaces’, International Journal of Public Administration, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 126–137. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299402417_Self-Care_in_Public_and_Community_Sector_Workplaces 

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2016, ‘Indigenous digital art as politics in Australia’, Culture, Theory and Critique, vol. 58, no. 3, pp. 306–319, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735784.2016.1203810 

Bessant, J., 2016, ‘Democracy denied: youth participation and criminalizing digital dissent’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 19, no. 7, pp. 921–937, https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2015.1123235 

Bessant, J., and Broadley, K., 2015, ‘Transparency, secrecy and “uncomfortable knowledge” in child protection’, Policy Studies, vol. 37, no. 93, pp. 93–112, https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2015.1108401 

Bessant, J., Farthing, R., and Watts, R., 2015, ‘Co-designing a civics curriculum: young people, democratic deficit and political renewal in the EU’, Journal of Curriculum Studies, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2015.1018329 

Bessant J., and Watts, R., 2015, ‘Continuing subversion of the Children’s Court: a review of Victoria’s new child protection laws 2014’, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 105–108. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1037969X1504000209 

Bessant, J., 2014, ‘Criminalizing the political in a digital age’, Critical Criminology, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 329–348, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-014-9261-4 

Bessant, J., 2014, ‘A dangerous idea? Freedom, children and the capability approach to education’, Critical Issues In Education, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 138–153, https://doi.org/10.1080/17508487.2014.873368 

Bessant, J., 2014, ‘The political in the age of the digital: propositions for empirical investigation’, Politics, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 33–44, https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9256.12015 

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2014, ‘“Cruel optimism”: a southern theory perspective on the European Union’s Youth Strategy, 2008–2012’, International Journal of Adolescence and Youth: Youth Policy in Austerity Europe, vol. 19, no. S1, pp. 125–140, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.833957 

Bessant, J., and Emslie, M., 2014, ‘Why university education matters: youth work and the Australian experience’, Child & Youth Services, vol. 35, pp. 137–151, https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2014.924345 

Bessant, J., 2014, ‘Digital spring? New media and new politics on the campus’, Discourse: Studies in Cultural Politics of Education, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 249–265. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263716353_Digital_Spring_New_media_and_new_politics_on_the_campus 

Bessant, J., and Broadley, K., 2014, ‘Saying and doing: child protective services and participation in decision-making’, International Journal of Children’s Rights, vol. 22, pp. 710–729. https://brill.com/view/journals/chil/22/4/article-p710_2.xml 

Bessant, J., 2013, ‘History and Australian Indigenous child welfare policies’, Policy Studies, vol. 34., no. 3, pp. 310–325. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01442872.2013.803531 

Bessant J., and Johnson, G., 2013, ‘“Dream on”: declining homeownership among young people in Australia?’, Housing, Theory and Society, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 177–192. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14036096.2012.728151 

Bessant, J., 2012, ‘Human rights, the law, cyber-security and democracy: after the European convention’, Australian Journal of Human Rights, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–26. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/57635/ 

Bessant, J., 2012, ‘The magic of numbers and the amazing disappearing act: the politics of counting youth homelessness’, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 244–248. Download here.

Bessant, J., Emslie, M, and Watts, R., 2012, ‘In defence of Victoria’s Children’s Court: its value and role in state child protection’, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 244–248. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262451601_In_Defence_of_Victoria's_Children's_Court_Its_Value_and_Role_in_the_Child_Protection_System 

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2012, ‘The mis-measurement of youth: why adolescent brain science is bad science’, Contemporary Social Science Journal of the Academy of Social Science, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 181–196. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21582041.2012.691541 

Bessant, J., 2011, ‘Conservatives, politics and the crisis of modern education in Australia’, Policy Studies, vol. 32, pp. 631–647, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2011.637677 

Bessant, J., 2011, ‘International law as remedy: when the state breaches child protection statutes’, Child and Youth Services, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 254–275, http://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2011.608029 

Bessant, J., Emslie, M., and Watts, R., 2011, ‘Accounting for future generations: intergenerational equity in Australia’, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 70, pp. 143–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8500.2011.00723.x  

Bessant, J., 2011, ‘“Measuring up”? Assessment and students with disabilities in the modern university’, International Journal of Inclusive Education, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2010.489119 

Bessant, J., 2009, ‘Reasonable limits and exemptions: Victoria’s Human Rights Charter and its implications for young people’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 14–22. https://research-repository.rmit.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Reasonable_limits_and_exemptions_Victoria_s_human_rights_charter_and_its_implications_for_young_people/27428553?file=50737701 

Bessant, J., 2009, ‘The wives of north-shore doctors: social equity and the Higher Education Contribution Scheme’, Public Administration Today, pp. 64–74. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343678903_The_Wives_of_North-Shore_Doctor'_Social_Equity_and_the_Higher_Education_Contribution_Scheme_Public_Administration_Today 

Bessant, J., 2009, ‘Aristotle meets youth work: a case for virtue ethics’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 423–438. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676260902866843 

Bessant, J., 2009, ‘Educating youth workers as public advocates’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, no. 103, pp. 65–79. https://www.youthandpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/youthandpolicy1031.pdf

Bessant, J., 2009, ‘“The end of certainty”: policy regime change and Australian youth policy, 1983–2008’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, no. 100, pp. 27–40. Download here.

Fehring, H., and Bessant, J., 2009, ‘The life course design for transitional labour market research’, Journal of Education and Work, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080902853997 

Bessant, J., 2008, ‘From harm minimization to zero tolerance drug policy: why the Australian Government changed its mind’, Policy Studies, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 179–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442870802033498 

Bessant, J., 2008, ‘The sociology of policy making in the modern state: intent and human action’, Journal of Sociology, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 283–300. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783308092885 

Bessant, J., 2008, ‘Hard wired for risk: neurological science, the adolescent brain and developmental theory’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 11, no, 3, pp. 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676260801948387 

Bessant, J., 2008, ‘Age and equity: a case for an intergenerational charter’, Journal of Australian Studies, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 361–373. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14443050802294109 

Bessant, J., 2007, ‘The value of ethnographic research: university students and financial hardship’, Children Australia, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 25–34. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296636222_The_value_of_ethnographic_research_University_students_and_financial_hardship 

Bessant, J., 2007, ‘The politics of education: why stand-alone youth work degrees matter’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 44–51. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2007, ‘Not such a fair go: an audit of children’s and young people’s rights in Australia’, Scottish Youth Issues, no. 9, pp. 41–56. Download here.

Montague, A., and Bessant, J., 2007, ‘Australian skill shortages: how the Howard government did not change its mind’, Economic and Labour Relations Review, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 99–114. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-economic-and-labour-relations-review/article/abs/australian-skill-shortages-how-the-howard-government-did-not-change-its-mind/6FC51BE9F386BBD7913D3D45A0EAAF3A  

Bessant, J., and Watkinson, A., 2006, ‘Principles for developing Indigenous policy’, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 100–112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8500.2006.00475a.x

Bessant, J., 2006, ‘Blind eye to the telescope: academics and their politics’, Journal of the Public University, vol. 3. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2006, ‘The fixed age rule: young people, parental consent and research ethics’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 50–57. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2005, ‘Why employ qualified youth workers?’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 9–13. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2005, ‘Principles for youth policy: Kant’s categorical imperative and developmental ethics’, Policy Studies, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 103–116. https://research-repository.rmit.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Principles_for_developing_youth_policy_Kant_s_Categorical_Imperative_and_developmental_ethics_/27412083 

Bessant, J., 2005, ‘Liberal democracy and voluntary student union legislation’, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 30. no. 4, pp. 194–196. https://research-repository.rmit.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Liberal_democracy_and_Voluntary_Student_Union_legislation/27412479

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘Procedural justice, conflict of interest and the Stolen Generations’ Case’, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 63, no. 1, pp. 74–84. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8500.2004.00361.x 

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘Mixed messages: youth participation and democratic practice’, Australian Journal of Political Science, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 387–404, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1036114042000238573

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘“Up periscope”: the future for youth work in Australia’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 17–25. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘Risk technologies and youth work practice’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, no. 83, pp. 60–77. https://www.youthandpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2004/04/y-and-p-83.pdf 

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘Habit and habitat: housing, government policy, drugs and pregnant women’, Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1071/PY04021 

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘The Loch Ness monster and youth-work professionalism: arguments for and against’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 26–33. https://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv%3A64099 

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘Legal issues in higher education and the Trade Practices Act’, Journal of Higher Education Policy Management, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 251–263. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1360080042000218294 

Bessant, J., 2004, ‘Professional credibility and public trust in those working with young people’, Children Australia, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 5–13. https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/download/pdf/1485/ 

Bessant, J., 2003, ‘The “science of risk’ and the epistemology of human service practice’, Just Policy: A Journal of Australian Social Policy, no. 31, pp. 39–48. https://www.academia.edu/7234533/The_Science_of_Risk_and_the_Epistemology_of_Human_Service 

Bessant, J., 2003, ‘Youth participation, a new mode of government’, Policy Studies, vol. 24, no. 2/3, pp. 87–100. https://www.yacwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Youth-Participation-a-new-mode-of-government.pdf 

Bessant, J., 2003, ‘Stories of disenchantment: supervised chroming, the press and policy making’, Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy, vol. 108, pp. 50–66. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2003, ‘The problem of poverty amongst tertiary students: why it’s missing from the policy agenda’, Melbourne Studies in Education, vol. 44, pp. 69–88. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2003, ‘Precursors to the media frenzy: supervised chroming, young people in care and Victorian drug policy’, Youth Studies Australia, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 11–17. Download here.

Bessant, 2003, ‘Pregnancy in a Brotherhood bin: housing and drug-treatment options for pregnant young women’, Australian Social Work and Social Policy, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 234–246. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.0312-407x.2003.00077.x

Bessant, J., and Webber. R., 2003, ‘Youth workers, professional identities and narratives of workplace change: a preliminary report’, Journal of Australian Studies, no. 78, pp. 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/14443050309387868

Bessant, J., and Hil, R., 2003, ‘In Defence of Australian Youth Studies – A Response to Wyn and White’, Journal of Australian Studies, no. 78, pp. 111–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/14443050309387875

Webber, R., Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 2003, ‘Violent acts: why do they do it?’ Australian Social Work and Social Policy, vol. 56, no. 4, pp. 247–257. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.0312-407x.2003.00080.x 

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘Normal rules of law, child protection legislation and Australia’s detention of child asylum seekers’, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 165–170. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354666249_Normal_rules_of_law_child_protection_legislation_and_Australia's_detention_of_child_asylum_seekers 

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘Rights, obligations and the public sphere: arguments and options for securing just policies for young people’, Children Australia, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 33–40. https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/download/pdf/1400/ 

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘The camps, a site of exceptionality: Australia’s detention of asylum seekers’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 37, pp. 1–29.

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘The politics of official talk about welfare reform in Australia’, Just Policy: A Journal of Australian Social Policy, pp.12–3. See PDF here.

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘Generative metaphor, problem setting in policy and the discovery of youth at risk’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, no. 76, pp. 33–46. See PDF here.

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘Dawkins higher education reforms and how metaphors work in policy making’, Journal of Higher Education Policy Management, vol. 24, pp. 87–99. See PDF here.

Bessant, J., 2002, ‘Risk and nostalgia; the problem of education and youth unemployment in Australia’, Journal of Education and Work, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 53–74. See PDF here.

Bessant, J., 2001, ‘Australia’s mandatory sentencing laws: ethnicity and human rights’, International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 369–384. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24675181?seq=1 

Bessant, J., 2001, ‘Fine for poets, anathema for scientists: youth culture and the role of metaphor’, Melbourne Studies in Education, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 27–48, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17508480109556383

Bessant, J., 2001, ‘The question of public trust and the schooling system’, Australian Journal of Education, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 207–225. See PDF here.

Webber, R., and Bessant, J., 2001, ‘Techniques for negotiating workplace reform in Australia: an ethnography of the youth and community sector’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, pp. 35–49. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruth-Webber-2/publication/216223711_Techniques_for_Negotiating_Workplace_'Reform'_in_Australia/links/00b4951819aec7f67d000000/Techniques-for-Negotiating-Workplace-Reform-in-Australia.pdf

Bessant, J., 2001, ‘From sociology of deviance to sociology of risk: youth homelessness and the problem of empiricism’, Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 31–44. See PDF here.

Bessant, J., 2000, ‘The youth wage and age based discrimination: rights versus jobs’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 35, no 3, pp. 235–250. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1839-4655.2000.tb01308.x

Bessant, J., 2000, ‘Deregulating the labour market, regulating the unemployed: Australia’s work for the dole scheme’, Journal of Australian Studies, no. 64, pp. 76–84. See PDF here.

Bessant, J., 2000, ‘Social action and the internet: new forms of political space’, Just Policy: A Journal of Australian Social Policy, no. 19/20, pp. 108–118. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364273938_Social_Action_and_the_Internet_New_Forms_of_Political_Space

Bessant, J., 2000, ‘International obligations and mandatory sentencing’, Social Alternatives, pp. 53–56. Download here.

Bessant, J., 2000, ‘Mandatory sentencing: justice for young Indigenous people’, Children Australia, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 10–13. https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/article/1271 

Bessant, J., 2000, ‘Civil conscription or reciprocal obligation: the ethics of “work-for-the-dole”’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 15–34. Download here.

Webber, R., Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 1999, ‘An interpretative approach to understanding violence among young people’, Interface: A Forum for Theology in the World, pp. 95–114. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1999, ‘How a state changed its government: from Kennett to Bracks’, Just Policy: A Journal of Australian Social Policy, no. 16, pp. 4–10. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1999, ‘Deregulating poverty: Liberal National Coalition Government policies and young people’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 33, no.1, pp. 1–24. Download here.

Hil, R., and Bessant, J., 1999, ‘Spaced out? Young people’s agency, resistance and public space’, Urban Policy and Research, vol 17, no. 1, pp. 41–50. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233013445_Spaced-out_Young_people's_agency_resistance_and_public_space 

Bessant, J and Hil, R., 1999, ‘Administering differential justice? Parental restitution, juvenile crime and the state’, Journal of Australian Studies, pp. 115–128.

Bessant, J., and Cook, S., 1998, ‘The sovereign state and obligations to protect women against violence’, Just Policy: A Journal of Australian Social Policy, vol.13, pp. 10–19.

Bessant, J., 1998, ‘Women in academia and opaque violence’, Melbourne Studies in Education, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 41–68. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232980986_Women_in_academia_and_opaque_violence 

Bessant, J., and Hil, R., 1998, ‘Parenting on trial: state wards and government accountability in Australia’, Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 26, no 2, pp. 145–157. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4970425_Parenting_on_trial_State_wards'_and_governments'_accountability_in_Australia 

Bessant, J., and Hil R., 1997, ‘Moral anguish and systematic failure: state child care and protection in Australia’, Children Australia, pp. 22–26. https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/download/pdf/1148/

Bessant, J., 1997, ‘Training for “real jobs”: young people and the Liberal-National Government’, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 56, no. 2 pp. 18–31.

Bessant, J., and Evans, M., 1997, ‘En-gendering change in tertiary youth work programs, Curriculum Perspectives, vol. 17, no. 1 pp. 13–21. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1996, ‘The silent consensus: the Victorian Crimes Amendment Act and protective mechanisms for young people’, Children Australia, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 29–39. https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/download/pdf/1108/ 

Bessant, J., 1996, ‘Adolescence-as-offenders, social order and the morality of work in a post-industrial society: the Australian Experience’, Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 523–536. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/4970385_Adolescents_as_offenders_social_order_and_the_morality_of_work_in_a_postindustrial_society_The_Australian_experience 

Bessant, J., & Evans, M., 1996, ‘Gendering the youth work curricula in Australia: a case study’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, no. 54, pp. 26–37. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1996, ‘Reforming Victoria’s child & adolescent services: citizenship rights and young people’, Just Policy: A Journal of Australian Social Policy, no. 5, pp. 31–42.

Bessant, J., and Emslie, M., 1996, ‘The impact of local government amalgamation on youth work: structural reforms & social implications’, Youth Studies Australia, pp. 39–43. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317248468_Structural_reforms_and_social_implications_The_impact_of_local_government_amalgamations_on_youth_work 

Bessant, J., 1995, ‘Current issues in educating young offenders for citizenship, education & citizenship’, Melbourne Studies in Education, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 65–82. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1995, ‘Political crime and the case of young neo-Nazis: a question of methodology’, Terrorism and Political Violence, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 94–116. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233023201_Political_Crime_and_the_Case_of_Young_Neo-Nazis_A_Question_of_Methodology 

Bessant, J., 1995, ‘Consolidating an industry and prolonging dependency: professionals, policies and young people’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 249–274. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1995, ‘The discovery of an Australian “juvenile underclass”’, Australian New Zealand Journal of Sociology, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 32–48. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1995, ‘Tracing bio-political and eugenic connections in education and our treatment of “youth problems”’, Australian Journal of Education, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 249–264. https://doi.org/10.1177/000494419503900303

Bessant, J., 1995, ‘Hanging around the street: Australian rockers, sharpies and skinhead “gangs” of the 1960s and early 1970s’, Journal of Australian Studies, no. 45, pp. 15–31. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1994, ‘The American “juvenile underclass” and the cultural colonisation of young Australians under conditions of modernity’, Journal of Gang Research, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 15–33. Download here.

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 1994, ‘Violence, young people and schools’, Discourse: The Australian Journal of Educational Studies, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 49–59. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1994, ‘Contesting models of policy: problem setting and the Australian experience’, Youth and Policy: The Journal of Critical Analysis, no. 43, pp. 44–66. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1993, ‘Policy paradoxes: disempowerment of young people under the Labor Government, 1983–1991’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 87–105. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1839-4655.1993.tb00919.x

Bessant, J., and Watts, R., 1992, ‘Being bad is good: explorations of the bodgie gang culture in south east Australia, 1948-1956’, Gang Journal: An Interdisciplinary Research Quarterly, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 31–56. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1992, ‘Good women and good nurses: conflicting identities in the Victorian nurses strikes, 1985–1986’, Labour History: A Journal of Labour and Social History, no. 63, pp. 155–173. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275915681_'Good_Women_and_Good_Nurses'_Conflicting_Identities_in_the_Victorian_Nurses_Strikes_1985-86 

Bessant, J., 1991, ‘Described, measured and labelled: eugenics, youth policy and moral panic in Victoria in the 1950s’, Journal of Australian Studies, pp. 8–28. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233285083_Described_Measured_and_Labelled_Eugenics_Youth_Policy_and_Moral_Panic_in_Victoria_in_the_1950s

Bessant, J., 1991, ‘The survival of academic publishing in the current political climate: Melbourne Studies in Education’, Australian Journal of Education, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 107–111. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1989, ‘An historical perspective on the standards debate of the 1970s and 1980s’, Melbourne Studies in Education, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 63–71. Download here.

Bessant, J., and D’Cruz, V., 1989, ‘When nurses & teachers strike: public perceptions of “the betrayal”’, Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 26–33. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1988, ‘Meeting the demands of the corporate sector’, Journal of Australian Studies, vol. 12, no. 22, pp. 19–32, https://doi.org/10.1080/14443058809386968

Bessant, J., 1988, ‘Public rhetoric and education: some recurring phenomena’, Australian Administrator, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 1–5. Download here.

Bessant, J., 1986, ‘Schools under scrutiny during a period of depression 1890–1910’, Melbourne Studies in Education, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 32–61. Download here.