For political systems to be
representative, all parts of society must be included. When young people are
disenfranchised or disengaged from political processes, a significant portion
of the population has little or no voice or influence in decisions that affect
group members’ lives. A key consequence is the undermining of political
systems’ representativeness.
To make a difference in the longer
term, it is essential that young people are engaged in formal political
processes and have a say in formulating today’s and tomorrow’s politics.
Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and
democratic right but also is crucial to building stable and peaceful societies
and developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger
generations. 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.
When there are obstacles to
participating in formal, institutionalized political processes, young people
can rapidly feel disempowered. Many
tend to believe that their voices are not going to be heard or that they will
not be taken seriously even if they are heard. The problem becomes circular as
politicians may lose interest in responding to the aspirations of young people
if they cannot win their votes. This in turn leads to young people being
increasingly excluded from taking part in decision-making, or in debates about
key socio-economic and political issues, despite their sensitivity to the
demands for social equity and justice, environmental protection and cultural
diversity.
In new and emerging democracies, the
inclusion of young people in formal political processes is important from the
start. See Annex: A Spotlight on Countries in Transition. Young people’s
active contributions can bring democratic values to life, leading to the
overturning of authoritarian practices. In countries where young people have
led protests that have forced authoritarian regimes from power, they are likely
to feel significant frustration if they are not included in new formal
decision-making procedures. This can destabilize democratization and accelerate
conflict dynamics.
EMBs and other electoral stakeholders have a
role to play in promoting young people’s participation in formal
decision-making processes. For this role to be effective, it is necessary to
understand the interconnected nature of the obstacles to participation in these
processes that young people encounter.
