With modernisation and increase in political participation, also comes different generations with different ideals and ideologies. Typically, the most active of citizens that any country can govern are the young. The young are the most energetic, and in countries where they are many, most businesses and services are centred around the younger population. Simply opening a primary or secondary school in Kenya, or any African country with similar liberal policies on education can propel an entrepreneur from grass to grace overnight.
What am I saying? With modernisation and a youth bulge, the government needs to tactfully see how their increase in political participation becomes more of an asset to modernising the state. This can happen once their anger has died down and they are finally are ready to dialogue. An engagement can also happen when the two parties have reached a state of maturity in the existing conflict.
Modernity has two closely related connotations. Either structural or organisational modernity. These two connotations both point towards change, from an institutional perspective, or through programmes or specific programmes. A continuous combination of these two connotations is what has led to modernised societies. So the question that the government should ask itself is, how can the youth, through their numbers and energy, contribute towards modernisation or change?
A good example is where the role of innovation is aiding youth engagement in the policy making process in Kenya. The same research can be replicated in Africa and other developing societies. For instance, the youth, though are active in digital platforms, and not in physical public engagement forums, where the public are engaged in the policy making processes.
Strategic use of technology and digital platforms could help overcome some barriers to youth in political participation. An example from the #RejectFinanceBill protests is when the youth heavily relied on technology. Social media can be used to mobilise the youth. AI tools such as ChatGPT can help MPs and CSO’s make summaries of difficult-to-understand bills.
The X Spaces can be used for initial meetings and Google survey forms can be used as a public participation mechanism, among other ways of creatively engaging the youth who have access to smart devices. Parliament can also incorporate questions on public participation using easy-to-use digital applications or partner with existing easy to use applications. Traditional mechanisms can be used for engaging the youth who have no access to smart devices or the internet, especially those in low income households and the rural area. But this demographic still needs to be exposed to modern means of communication and engagement.
Embracing modernity would also include the need for improved infrastructure for physical political engagement activities that would be attractive to the youth. More use of music, popular musicians and comedy such as online graphics can be a good non-financial way of reaching out to many youth to increase engagement and political participation. Hopefully, these modern strategies will translate into more modern elections tools, modern elections and modern votes.
Democracy support researcher and scholar, currently based in Sweden
