Youth Empowerment: The Key to Political and Economic Reform

Youth are all too often excluded from political and economic policymaking, even though their engagement is vital in formulating effective public policy. Without access to venues for voicing their opinion, strikes and street protests become the only opportunity for young people to be heard. For progress and reform to take hold, young people must play an active role in advancing democratic and market-oriented reform.

Entries in this category will look at cultural, economic, and legal barriers to youth’s participation in society and ways to overcome them. Although youth populations constitute a large share of countries’ economic and social force, they are all too often excluded from full political, economic, and social participation.

Some questions to consider:

• What are the fundamental economic, and political factors that make youth empowerment vital to political freedom and economic growth?
• What is the role that youth play in society?
• Which reforms could increase youth’s participation?
• What are the outcomes of increased youth participation?
• How can increased youth participation positively affect democratic and economic development?