Youth Political Representation
A Global Perspective on Young Adults’ Presence in Political Institutions
Edited By
Kira Renée Kurz
University of Freiburg
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Brit Anlar
University of Amsterdam
About the Volume
Palgrave Studies in Young People and Politics
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.
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Empirical Cases: Global, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
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Perspectives: Åland, Germany, India, Philippines, UNDP Asia-Pacific, United States
Events
Volume Workshop
In September 2024, Brit and Kira held a joint workshop with all contributing authors across five time zones. The workshop was a moment for authors to meet as well as present and discuss the first chapter drafts.
Not only was the workshop a highly motivating experience that showed the value of bringing together people with all their different perspectives, it also demonstrated the overlapping challenges that youth representatives face, globally.
