This book is a critical review of the present state of theory and the various research methods being used in European youth sociology. The work is divided into two sections. Developed in the first section is a theoretical approach to youth based on a thorough analysis of the standard theoretical works in the sociology and psychology of youth (e.g. Eisenstadt, Parsons, Erickson, Keniston, Matza, J. S. Coleman, Gottlieb and Reeves, Bourdier, Schelsky, Musgrove, etc.) and the theoretical work in Europe of the last decade. The synthesis of the different works is based on the author's personal consideration of the problems and approaches. The second section is comprised of a methodological analysis of the empirical works which appeared in Central and Western Europe (those countries which are members of the Council of Europe) during the decade 1969-1970. (Author/RM)