BLOG 1 Young People and Political Engagement

PROTESTS, VOTER APATHY AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM 

In the UK, there is no doubt that more and more young people, as time goes on, are becoming more passionate and more engaged when it comes to politics, whether this being from starting social media campaigns, sharing issues, and voicing how they feel about the way those in power decide how the youth’s lives should be dictated, through a tweet. Learning that the youth’s opinion is much more accessible and known, compared to the history of youth and their political engagement.

In the past, it has been known that the voter turnout, young people were the ones who had the lowest percentage, this dates back to the stereotypes that come with being a young person in the UK, that they are carefree and reckless, and that just because they are young, they are too young to be able to understand such ‘adult’ stuff. It’s because of this stereotype that the youth self-fulfilled what was already being said about them and couldn’t care less about political engagement, despite the fact that there are tomorrow’s future, they are being made to feel like their opinion doesn’t matter and it is their role in society to do as they are told, belittling the fact that in fact, the youth have no way, when it comes to voting in subjects such as who leads the country, affecting their future.

Voter turnout among 18-24-year-olds has consistently been lower than any other age group in the UK since 1964, and this trend has continued in recent years. In the 2019 UK General Election, just 47% of 18–24-year-olds turned out to vote, compared to 67% of the overall electorate (Electoral Commission, 2020). This phenomenon has been referred to as “voter apathy” among young people.

(The British Election Study Team 2019)

There are several reasons for this lack of engagement. One factor is a perceived lack of representation in politics. Young people may feel that politicians do not listen to their concerns, or that the issues they care about are not being addressed by those in power (Maddox et al., 2018). Another factor is a lack of understanding of how the political system works. This deprivation stems from the fact that, despite the fact that the history of politics gets taught and a broad explanation of who is governing the UK is explained, the education system lacks an in-depth, understanding of how important it is for the youth to vote and how they, in fact, can have a voice through politics. The introduction of subjects like citizenship and politics into the school curriculum is and has helped increase the gap between the youth being careless about what political decisions are being made and them actually having and voicing those options through different outlets.

Another way in which I think is important to further increase and maintain a good level of political engagement is perhaps the suggestion of lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. This idea has gained traction in recent years, with Scotland becoming the first country in the UK to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum (BBC News, 2014). Since then, several other countries, including Austria, Brazil, and Argentina, have also lowered their voting age to 16 (The Guardian, 2019). Advocates of lowering the voting age argue that it will increase political engagement among young people by giving them a voice in decisions that will affect their future (Lunn et al., 2018). furthermore, 16-year-olds re already allowed to work, pay taxes, and join the armed forces, and therefore should also have the right to vote (Scottish Parliament Information Centre, 2014). as if at that age you can gamble your life in the army, why can’t you have a say in your future.

Whilst it has been proven that there are limitations when it comes to young people in fully maximising their ability to involve in political engagement, they have found a way for their voices to be heard and for them to make a noise in society that the youth, despite their age have opinions and that they matter. One example of this is the youth-led global movement for climate action, which has seen young people protest to demand action on climate change, is one example of this. Tens of thousands of young people in the UK took part in the Youth Strike 4 Climate, a string of school strikes, in March 2019. These protests were intended to draw attention to the urgent need for climate change action and to demand that politicians act more forcefully to address the situation (The Guardian, 2019).

ITV news- 2019

The Black Lives Matter movement, which witnessed a “wave of protests across the UK and around the world in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd in the US, is another example of young people using rallies to demand wider political expression. These rallies, which demanded an end to institutional racism and police violence, were heavily influenced by young people (The Independent, 2020). These movements demonstrate that young people in the UK are not apathetic when it comes to politics, but rather are passionate about issues that affect them and their future. However, they often feel that traditional political processes and institutions do not represent their views and concerns.

In response to this, young people have been using a range of tactics to demand more political expression. This includes protests, direct action, and social media campaigns, which allow them to connect with like-minded individuals and amplify their message.

For example, the #RegisterToVote campaign, which was launched ahead of the 2019 UK General Election, saw young people using social media to encourage their peers to register to vote and have their say in the election. The campaign reached millions of people on social media and helped to increase youth voter registration (The Guardian, 2019).

In addition, young people have been using social media to organize and mobilize around issues that are important to them. This includes using hashtags such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter to raise awareness of issues such as sexual harassment and racial inequality. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok have become important spaces for young people to share their opinions and connect with others who share their views.

Overall, young people in the UK are using a range of tactics to demand more political expression and to make their voices heard. While voter apathy remains a challenge, these movements demonstrate that young people are engaged and passionate about issues that affect them and their future. By continuing to use a range of tactics, including protests, social media campaigns, and direct action, young people can continue to push for change and demand more political representation.

By Nezha Stitou-Benahmed

 

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