- Sunday, 22 December 2024
Youths Participation In Politics
Tribhuvan Chandra Wagle
The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2020 has stated that democracy is in a downward spiral across the world owing to an unfavorable electoral systems and processes, low turnout in elections, and a lack of democratic political culture and civil liberties.
In Nepal, a large number of youths have been involved in various democratic movements with the aim of the founding of democracy since 2003 BS. At present, however, many talented youths are found to take no interest in political activities.
Youths should engage in numerous democratic activities such as social and political discussions, voting, the election process, decision-making, leadership, and other related ones as engaged and responsible members of society.
If youngsters want to remove the social and political abnormalities that now exist in the country, they must demonstrate a stronger interest in participating in political activities.
But the present scenario is less encouraging, youths either go abroad for studies or employment. Many of those who stay back in their countries often pass their valuable time and energy on social media.
On social media platforms, these youths are mostly found raising issues such as a greater need for bringing political reformation in the country.
Democracy is a system that relies on the conscience, power, and activeness of youths. Democracy will fail if youths are not ready to actively participate in democratic activities.
Our youths should remind themselves of vital points if they really want to bring positive changes in present-day politics.
Increased Participation
Our youths often show their dislike to politics, citing, 'politics is a dirty game.'
Though certain people, organizations, or groups have transformed politics into a filthy game, politics is not inherently a nasty game. Many young people disapprove of and criticize the actions of leaders, as well as party, governmental, and bureaucratic policies.
The intended outcomes are not achieved by merely voicing disapproval. Youths should thus strive to take the initiative and have a bigger impact on political parties.
Utilizing the enthusiasm and knowledge of the younger generation, all political parties should shift leadership to young people. The young should be more willing to take the party and the government by the reins.
How can Nepalese youth handle the current political inconsistencies if a few of them choose not to engage in political activities? They should participate in party events and try to build influence via powerful but positioned political involvement.
International Practices
Nepali youths are aware of foreign political culture, practices, ethics, and policies. They need to tell their peers and other members of society about them. For this, some bureaus should be formed within every political party having the leadership of youths.
Various bureaus like engineering, health service, teaching, trade and economy, environment, agriculture, art and literature, human resources, and so on should be formulated as the sister wings of parties where experts on these matters should be made the leader of the bureau. The youth-led bureaus should prepare sectoral policies and plan for political parties.
Some independent candidates, especially urban youths, won support from voters. Some of the independent candidates have won the election too. Some political analysts and common voters have believed that independent candidates won the election because of voters' dislike of political parties.
This belief is not fully misplaced. Several Nepali youths are committed to a multi-party political system, people's sovereignty, separation of power among states\organs, human rights and periodic elections, that is why they are not against the political parties as well as a multi-party system.
But they may be annoyed with the bad decisions of political parties, poor working capabilities of their candidates, or service delivery capacity.
All youths, who want to change the attitude of a political leader, the working style of political workers, or the establishment of a working environment with political fairness must institutionalize or organize, which helps them change the working environment at the local as well as national level. No political change will be achieved with the expression of dislike or agitation on social media.
Politically conscious youths should not play politics as a game for conquest. The new generation who are attracted to domestic politics should realize that politics is not per se a game but instead the means of delivering services to society self lessly.
So, politically aware youths should not play politics as in the past days, they should serve the community through policies. Politics should be a tool, having the aim to serve the community.
Nowadays, Nepali politics is held as a means to earn quick money, exercising the power, and the tool of nepotism. If so, politically conscious youths should be organized to change the present value of politics.
The energetic youths should make politics the medium of service instead of earning tools. But I get a bit surprised when the most creative and energetic youths become indifferent to politics, condemning the behaviors of the political leader through social media.
I would like to request the youths that they need to recognize their own self-worth. Being a major pillar of democracy, the youth should engage in correcting the course of politics. Nepali youths had leading participation in various political movements in 2007 BS and 2062\063.
The circle of such politically conscious youth needs to collectively work to strengthen the parliamentary multi-party system. But I get embarrassed when I see a long caravan of youth ready to leave the country.
The Chanakya Niti (interpretations of sage Chanakya) claims that organization is the power of the Kali Era. No single youth can change the political disorder of the country with personal efforts, but they have to organize themselves to bring changes.
The group of imaginative young people must understand that criticizing political figures and parties will not address our society's and politics' problems. Four young revolutionaries who were recognized as the sons of Nepal Aama were slain, and this is something we should never forget.
Similar to this, all young people ought to be required to acknowledge the contributions made by BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, Kishunji, Manmohan Adhikari, and the numerous other young people who put up a valiant fight to build a democratic system in the nation.
Regrouping
If you want to change the contemporary political deformity of the country, the first thing that youths must do is to reorganize the worth of like-minded people as per the saying of Chanakya.
The huge crowd will not be able to work effectively, which is why the organized youth should select their delegation to lead the mass emotions, which is a sort of leadership. Let us make good communication and conversation the tools for connecting youths.
The pioneer leader of the country, BP Koirala, has said: "Either we have to convince other people to come to terms with our opinion or we have to agree with their views.
A non-linear model of communication should be applied to exchange organizational experiences, knowledge, plan, program, and so on. To achieve common goals, politically conscious youths should be self-aware, grateful, respectful, studious, and critical which are the fundamental elements of the organization.
Finally, we must acknowledge that mocking or criticizing political figures on social media is no longer acceptable in the modern day. Every young person should be organized to fill in for the leader's shortcomings.
(Wagle is a journalist)
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