Paper short abstract:

This research delves into the relationship between poverty, aspirations and criminal behaviour among youth in Bonteheuwel, South Africa. Utilizing qualitative methods, the study demonstrates how poverty constrains the formation and pursuit of youth aspirations.

Paper long abstract:

This research delves into the relationship between poverty, aspirations, and criminal behaviour among youth in Bonteheuwel, South Africa. Utilizing qualitative methods, including interviews and focus groups with youth and community leaders, the study demonstrates how poverty constrains the formation and pursuit of youth aspirations, leading to potentially harmful behavioural patterns, particularly criminal and antisocial behaviour. The findings underscore the influence of poverty in shaping youth aspirations. The study reveals the presence of intrinsic aspirations among youth, including aspirations for community development and personal fulfilment as drivers of youth behaviour.

Drawing upon the Capability Approach, aspirations are conceptualized as important components of an agent's capability set. Sen (1989) argues that effective development involves enhancing people's real freedoms, which encompass their capabilities—defined as the freedom to pursue and achieve various functionings in life. Assessing capabilities thus extends beyond addressing external constraints. Aspirations, which inform individuals' preferences and choices, are deeply intertwined with capabilities.

Persistent poverty often undermines individuals' confidence in their abilities, shaping the capabilities they aspire toward (Ghosal, 2021). Appadurai (2004) suggests that the poor may lack the capacity to aspire, impacting their capability set relative to that of the rich, which negatively influences their behaviour and overall developmental trajectory. Aspirations and capabilities are thus intertwined, with aspirations providing the framework within which specific capabilities can be realized and sustained (Appadurai, 2004). Acknowledging the inherent connection between aspirations and capabilities, this study integrates the Capability Approach and aspirations theory to construct a conceptual framework known as the Capability to Aspire Framework (CAF). This framework is utilized to investigate the relationship between poverty, aspirations, and involvement in criminal behaviour among the youth in Bonteheuwel.

This research demonstrates how poverty limits youth's freedom to aspire. Financial constraints and familial responsibilities compromise youth's agency, leading to feelings of hopelessness and diminished mental well-being. Food insecurity further undermines agency, propelling youth into illicit activities aimed at securing sustenance. In particular, the study highlights how a constrained capability to aspire contributes to the normalization of criminal and antisocial behaviour among Bonteheuwel's youth. Furthermore, the psychological and emotional barriers stemming from poverty diminish youth's self-efficacy and expectations, and thus their agency, fuelling feelings of frustration and contributing to aggressive and violent behaviour within the community (Dalton et al., 2016).

Addressing poverty in Bonteheuwel requires a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the multifaceted impact of constrained aspirations on youth behaviour. Recommendations in this regard include career counselling to broaden youth's aspiration window, exposure to positive role models, expansion of nutrition programs to alleviate food insecurity, and provision of recreational activities to create safe spaces for youth.