By Kibo Ngowi

Amidst the challenges faced by democracies worldwide, a beacon of hope is emerging as young people take charge of their futures. Youth across the globe are stepping up to redefine their roles in shaping governance. And the call for increased youth participation resonates strongly in the global south. 

Despite a lower-than-desired voter turnout in the Nigerian elections earlier this year, the resilience of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ movement demonstrated the transformative power of youth cohesion as several young candidates who benefitted from the campaign took office for the first time.

Pakistan, with its youthful population, paints a similar picture. Young activists and influencers are leveraging social media to amplify their voices, addressing issues beyond elections. Their engagement in community service, awareness campaigns, and local development projects reflects a commitment to societal change. As they prepare for the upcoming elections, the youth in Pakistan demand inclusive, transparent governance that aligns with their values.

These stories underscore a shift in the narrative – from disillusionment to active participation. The youth’s discontent is evolving into a powerful force for change. Their demands extend beyond electoral politics, encompassing a desire for transparent, accountable governance that addresses their concerns.

No Parliament for Young Citizens

Aksel Sundström, an Associate Professor and senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, co-authored the book Youth without Representation, which examines the marginalisation of young adults in political office.

In their groundbreaking research, Aksel and his co-author, Daniel Stockemer, set out to understand why there are so few young politicians. Their study focused on individuals aged 18 to 35 and began with a global examination of the age distribution of politicians in national politics. The findings confirmed a troubling trend: political institutions are predominantly composed of older individuals, with young adults being a minority.

The World Values Survey further confirms this trend, highlighting that even though half the world is under 30, 69 percent of countries restrict young people from running for office, even if they can vote. Furthermore, only 2.6 percent of the world’s parliamentarians are under 30. This shows a big gap between young people and the government.

“As the title of the book implies, we definitely found that by and large parliaments consist not only of a majority of men who are more wealthy and belonging to the ethnic majority group,” says Sundström. “But our book really points to the fact that parliaments are also composed of those of a certain age. They tend to be above 50 years old, and they tend to seldom be young adults.”

Sundström and Stockemer found that countries with age barriers, which restrict candidacy to individuals aged 25 years and older, tend to have parliaments with a significantly higher median age. These barriers can send a signal to young people that they are not welcome in politics. Additionally, electoral systems that favour proportional representation tend to have more diverse candidates and elect more young adults. 

Aksel also highlights the challenges young adults face when running for office. Older candidates have an advantage, often due to their experience and incumbency. “So it’s almost natural or expected that Parliament should have more of the older politicians,” says Sundström. 

“But I would like to differ here. I think it is actually a democratic problem that so many of the young cohorts today are quite absent from politics. And I think this is a democratic deficit. And in the book, my co-author and I outline this argument in detail, and we think that there’s a case to be made for intergenerational differences in interests between groups.” 

“So we think that there are many policies where younger cohorts have different interests than older cohorts. Think of the climate change issue, for example, we can definitely see that an inability to act on climate change will affect those younger today, much more than those that are quite older today. So we make the argument why it is a normative kind of democratic deficit to have so few young politicians in Parliament today.”

Aksel stressed the importance of increasing young adults’ participation to break the vicious cycle in which political parties cater to older voters’ preferences, further alienating the younger generation. He points out that introducing more young politicians from diverse backgrounds can increase turnout among young voters, offering a path to a more inclusive political landscape.

Young Nigerians Take The Lead

Earlier this year, Africa’s largest democracy held its national elections but the results were contested. Opposition parties challenged the election of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s President but a presidential election tribunal upheld the election. Among the millions of Nigerian citizens who expressed dissatisfaction with this decision, many of them were young people.

Samson Itodo is a prominent activist for increased democratic youth participation in Nigeria and is most well-known for leading the movement for the reduction of age limits for running for public office in Nigeria called Not Too Young To Run. He’s also the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, a leading civic organisation promoting political inclusion, electoral integrity, and public accountability across Africa.

“One powerful lesson that can be learned from the 2023 elections in Nigeria is that young people can change and transform the political landscape if they build cohesion, and also articulate the issues,” explains Itodo. “Well, what we see in the election is that a third force was created. And that third force became a force to be reckoned with, because of the youth support, it’s important to continually reflect on the youth power that we saw.”

However, despite the enthusiasm witnessed on social media and in advocacy campaigns, the voter turnout in the general election was disappointingly low, hovering around 20-27%. Samson emphasises the need for young people to translate their online organising into physical presence at polling stations to make their voices heard and influence the outcomes.

“Another big lesson that came out of the Nigerian elections was the resilience of young people,” says Itodo. “And we could see that despite a pre-election environment that was not only tense, you know, but was fraught with all or signposted with all forms of violence and threats, you see young people resilient, engaging the system, just to ensure that their votes counted, and that really inspired me.”

When it comes to the recent ruling by Nigeria’s presidential election tribunal, Samson points out that many young people were disappointed with the judgement. The ruling raised concerns about the impartiality and effectiveness of the judiciary, eroding trust in democratic institutions. This disillusionment may lead some young Nigerians to lose interest in the political system, seeking alternative avenues for change.

Nevertheless, Samson emphasises the need for continuous engagement, highlighting the achievements of young people within eight months and the potential for long-term investments in strategic planning to seize political power in future elections. He stressed that young people can be effective community organisers and active citizens, demanding accountability from the system.

To enhance youth representation in political office and their role in shaping the nation’s future, Samson proposes several key steps. He urges young people to get involved in local politics, join political parties, and actively seek party positions to advance the youth agenda. He stressed the importance of getting on the voters’ register to exercise their voting rights and hold non-performing leaders accountable.

“The election is nothing but a process, not an event,” says Samson. “So there is a need to continually engage because no one is going to fix Nigeria’s democracy or politics of governance, except the young people who have demonstrated they can be resilient, they can be effective community organisers, well, more importantly, they can be active citizens that can engage the process of continue to place demands on the system until the system delivers.”

High Expectations in Pakistan

In the lead-up to Pakistan’s upcoming elections in 2024, the nation’s youth are gearing up to make their voices heard. “As one of the youngest countries globally, with a median age of around 22 years, Pakistan’s youth are eager for change and are determined to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future,” says Amna Rajput, a Project Manager at Accountability Lab Pakistan. 

“The youth appear to be extremely unhappy with the policies and attitudes of most political parties. Their key aspiration is active participation in elections, electing representatives who align with their values and aspirations. Despite facing challenges like limited representation in mainstream media, they use social media platforms creatively to raise awareness and rally support for causes they care about.”

Some youth may be disheartened and considering emigration due to the current state of affairs, but they refuse to relinquish their ownership of Pakistan. As the nation approaches the next election, the expectations of Pakistan’s youth revolve around achieving inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance that addresses key issues, such as education, employment, and economic growth. They also aim to be influential forces in shaping the nation’s future.

However, the discouraging trend of young people leaving the country due to perceived disconnection between their concerns and political agendas poses a challenge. This disillusionment with electoral politics results in lower voter turnout, as young people doubt the impact of their votes on meaningful change.

In response to this trend, young Pakistanis are engaging with democracy beyond elections. They actively participate in youth conventions, awareness campaigns, and dialogue with established political entities. Social media platforms serve as a tool for voicing opinions, raising awareness, and mobilising support for various causes. Young journalists, bloggers, and media influencers use their platforms to shed light on critical issues.

Moreover, youth-led organisations have emerged, focusing on societal issues like education, climate change, and gender equality. The youth engages in community service, volunteer work, and local development projects. Despite economic challenges, they remain resilient and seek civil service recruitment opportunities to shape Pakistan’s administrative system.

The aspirations of Pakistan’s youth are not unreasonable; they echo the fundamental concerns of any thriving democracy. The government and leaders need to pay attention to this trend of disillusionment and work toward a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance that addresses the needs of the younger generation. By doing so, they can ensure that Pakistan’s youth become a driving force for positive change in the nation’s democratic processes.

Placing the Youth At Democracy’s Forefront

The pressing need for greater youth representation in politics is not merely a matter of inexperience but a fundamental democratic issue. It is a call for inclusivity, transparency, and accountability in governance. The instances of youth-led activist movements we have seen across the world show us that young people are not apathetic about engaging in democracy. They just don’t believe that their voices will be heard through the more formalised processes such as elections. 

The youth are not just the future of democracy; they are an essential force for shaping its present. Their energy, innovation, and commitment to accountability can lead to a more inclusive and responsive political system. The only way we can collectively address the existential threats of climate change, inequality and conflict is if we get serious about giving young people a seat at the table and set them up for success.

As we move forward, it is our collective responsibility to listen to their voices, support their aspirations, and work towards a world where young people are active participants in shaping the democratic processes that govern their lives.

Key Takeaways: What can young active citizens do to engage in democratic processes given the climate across much of the global south?

1. Join Local Politics: Actively participate in local politics, join community groups, and contribute to grassroots movements to influence change at the grassroots level.
2. Use Social Media Creatively: Leverage social media platforms to voice opinions, raise awareness, and mobilise support for causes that matter, enhancing visibility and outreach.
3. Get Involved in Youth Organisations: Engage with youth-led organisations focusing on critical societal issues such as education, climate change, and gender equality, contributing to meaningful initiatives.
4. Participate in Youth Conventions: Attend and actively participate in youth conventions to exchange ideas, build networks, and amplify the collective voice of the youth on key matters.
5. Run for Office: Challenge age barriers and run for public office. Advocate for policy changes that foster inclusivity and representation of young voices in decision-making bodies.
6. Demand Accountability: Hold leaders accountable for their actions by demanding transparency and accountability. Act as watchdogs, ensuring elected officials prioritise the needs and concerns of the younger generation.
7. Translate Online Engagement to Physical Presence: Move beyond online activism and translate virtual momentum into physical presence at polling stations, ensuring that voices are heard through active participation in elections.
8. Invest in Strategic Planning: Emphasise long-term investments in strategic planning to gain political power. Focus on building cohesion, articulating issues, and sustaining resilience to shape the political landscape positively.

Kibo Ngowi