This book offers new insights into the political representation of young people globally. The authors address key issues such as the effects of different levels of government, the role of institutional reforms (e.g., the introduction of youth quotas), the impact of legislative turnover, and the link between descriptive and substantive representation. Featuring contributions from academics, but also activists and practitioners, the volume amplifies voices from all continents, enriching the discourse beyond its traditional European-centric focus. As the first significant exploration of its kind, it not only maps the current state of youth political representation but also illuminates the struggles and triumphs that young adults encounter in political spheres, offering fresh insights into the barriers and opportunities young people face in gaining a seat at the table and remaining there.
Chapter " “The Political Underrepresentation of Young Adults in Nigeria’s Subnational Parliaments” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Chapter 1: Introduction: Conceptual challenges in the field of youth
political representation.
Chapter 2: Global Youth Representation in
Parliaments from 1971 to 202.- Perspective I: Youth are at the door,
knocking, asking to be let in Youth Representation in Parliaments.-
Chapter 3: The Political Underrepresentation of Young Adults in Nigerias
Subnational Parliaments.
Chapter 4: Youth Representation in Ghanas Fourth
Republican Parliament: A Historical Overview.
Chapter 5: Youth Political
Representation in Kenya: Ongoing Struggles Despite the 2010 Constitutional
Reform.
Chapter 6: Youth Representation in South Africa: From University
Walls to Parliamentary Halls.
Chapter 7: Institutional Reforms Matter: Youth
Representation in the Chilean Congress over three decades.
Chapter 8: Youth
Quotas in Context: Institutional Change and Political Representation in
Ecuador (1979 - 2023).
Chapter 9: Future Forward? Youth Substantive
Representation in U.S. State Legislatures.- Perspective II: Leading with
Authenticity is an Asset Representation in a U.S. State Legislature
Representative.- Perspective III: Representing the Voice of Young Australians
at the United Nations.
Chapter 10: Youth (Under-)Representation in Japans
Lower House: Youth Issues and Political Interest vs. Political Behaviour and
Party Influence.- Perspectives IV: Beyond ticking off the box: Reflections on
my leadership experience as a young woman from Mindanao, Philippines.-
Chapter 11: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities: Youth Representation in
the Indian Parliament.- Perspective V: Youth Political Engagement in India: A
Practitioners Perspective.- Perspective VI: Digital Platforms: Bringing
Youth Interests to Parliaments.
Chapter 12: Speakin bout the young
generation: The Who and Why of youths substantive representation in written
parliamentary questions.
Chapter 13: The limited effect of Vote16 policies
on descriptive youth representation - An analysis of Germanys state
parliaments.- Perspective VII :I believe that local politics in Germany has
the greatest decision-making power and can set the greatest levers
Representing youth at the local level.
Chapter 14: Do young Swedes vote, run
for office, and get elected?.- Perspective VIII: Nordic Councils Committee
for Children and Young People.
Chapter 15: The Higher the Office, the
Narrower the Path? Youth Political Representation in Portugal.
Chapter 16:
Out with the Old, In with the Young: How Legislative Turnover Improves the
Descriptive Representation of Youth in Latvia.- Perspective IX:It Can be
Different The mobilization of young people for their right to
representation.
Chapter 17: Conclusion.
Kira Renée Kurz is a research associate at the University of Freiburg in Germany. Her research focuses on age-based and intergenerational conflicts, political parties, the political effects of demographic change and political representation especially youth representation.
Brit Anlar is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Her research focuses on the political representation of marginalized groups, particularly women and young people, with an emphasis on the intersection of age and gender. She co-founded the Youth Political Representation Research Network in 2019.
