Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also crucial to building stable and peaceful societies. For young people to be adequately represented in political institutions, processes, and decision-making, and in particular in elections, they must know their rights and be given the necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels.
By: Fatoyinbo Aminat
Despite making up more than half of the population in many countries, young people ( 18-30) often find themselves marginalized from mainstream politics and decision-making.
They struggle to gain the respect of public officials and are seen as lacking the skills and experience to engage in political activity and lead positive change in their communities. This exclusion, combined with limited educational and economic opportunities, can leave young people both idle and frustrated.
The youth can be a creative force and a dynamic source of sustainable innovation. However, they also face issues of poverty, barriers to education, and limited employment prospects and opportunities. In the area of political participation, eligibility for national parliament starts at 25 or older; 1.65 percent of parliamentarians around the world are in their 20s and 11.87per cent are in their 30s. The average age of parliamentarians globally is 53 (50 for female parliamentarians.
There are numerous advantages attached to the inclusion of youth in politics. Charismatic and passionate youths who are politically conscious will foster rapid growth and development in all sectors of the economy.
Also, the youth are better performers in the area of sensitization and mobilization of the electorate during electioneering. The vibrancy of youths makes them indispensable in politics and as such their inclusion in politics cannot be overemphasized. If energy is channeled well into politics, it will go a long way to affirm their relevance.
Another advantage of youth inclusion in politics is access to information. Politics thrives on information, not propaganda. With the advantage of the internet and social media, youths have unrestricted access to information and this paves way for the sophistication and robustness of their knowledge base. The youth are an asset for sustainable growth and development.
It is a fact that the youth are in the productive stage of their lives and they require proper orientation from adults to approach politics with a positive mentality.
Youth agencies and civil rights groups have to come in this regard to ensure that the youth make an impact in politics and governance.
Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also crucial to building stable and peaceful societies. For young people to be adequately represented in political institutions, processes, and decision-making, and in particular in elections, they must know their rights and be given the necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels.
Another importance is that young people who participate politically in their community are more likely to become engaged citizens and voters.
In countries of dictatorship, the younger generation’s fresh ideas and new leadership can help to overcome authoritarian practices. Protests led by youth leaders can force autocratic leaders to step down from power, allowing these youths to become part of formal decision-making.
Youth participation also leads to civic engagement which is broader than political engagement because it can include service to the community through involvement in health, education, and charity work. Political engagement is a more targeted aspect of civic engagement and can be expressed through voting and participating in political demonstrations.
The major issues hindering youth participation are many. We have the age requirements to vote or run for office. The first barrier for youth participation is the minimum voting age requirement set for national elections at 18 in most countries, which disenfranchises younger citizens. The second barrier for youth participation is the minimum age for eligibility to run for office, which is often set higher than the age to vote.
It can be a challenge to protect youths and encourage their participation at the same time.
Increased costs for candidate nomination and campaigning and the lack of political finance regulations make it even more difficult for youth to start a political career. Similarly, if parties are not giving financial support to young candidates at the same rates as older candidates, they are disadvantaged.
In most societies, politics seems to be set aside for older and wealthy citizens. This has resulted in the systematic exclusion of young people from political debates and decision-making and thus contributed to the underrepresentation of youth.
Without the active participation of youths in politics, a nation is toying with its future. It also undermines its existential capacity. The active participation of youths in politics must be seen as a beacon of hope for attaining purposeful and sustainable political leadership and stability.
Fatoyinbo Aminat Adebola is a Mass Communication student of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH). She’s a Writer, and Reporter at The Elites Watch with areas of interest – Education, Entertainment, Business, and other matters of general interest and importance. She currently writes for The Nation Newspaper under the CampusLife section of the Media House.